Perry County School Board to mull bids on library project, repair work

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- It's goodbye mobile classroom, hello new library for students at one Perry County school.

Work has stalled on the renovation of the sixth-grade pod lower level, a former shop classroom, which will soon become the Perryville Middle School library. That project is expected to be wrapped up by Dec. 1, just in time for the expiration of the district's three-year lease with Jim's Mobile Offices.

The board did approve a renewed three-year lease with the company for the elementary music mobile classroom at a cost of $8,750 per year. Mobile classrooms have been a part of the district's learning environment for years, according to board secretary Barb Hagan.

At its meeting today, the board will consider bids for the library project. As of Friday, there were four bids, ranging from $25,074 to $35,850, Hagan said. The project includes the installation of new windows and the reconstruction of the old shop classroom's back wall.

Maintenance employees for the Perry County School District have been working on the inside conversion, but work is on hold until the exterior wall is built, according to Glenn Berkbigler, the district's director of building and grounds.

The board also will take up bids for roof repairs to district buildings, which sustained significant damage when heavy winds battered Perryville in April. Several Perryville schools were damaged, including the roofs of the senior high, old senior high, elementary gym and career center. Windows also were broken in several buildings. Athletic fields and storage sheds were damaged as well.

In late May, emergency personnel estimated the storm cost Perryville property openers about $2.7 million.

The two bids for the school roof projects came in at more than $100,000 apart -- one at $235,748, the other at $135,518, according to bid documents from the district.

Perry County schools have seen a host of renovation projects this summer including:

* The connection of the concession stand restroom to city sewer lines.

* ADA compliance projects, particularly handicap accessibility at the old industrial arts building.

* The removal of pine trees diseased and in the way of utility lines.

Perry County school employees will begin the new school year with a slight raise. The board last month approved a 1.05 percent salary increase for all staff members for the 2011 to 12 school year.

Breakfast and lunch prices will rise a dime across the board for all grade levels as well as adults.

mkittle@semissourian.com

388-3627

Pertinent address:

326 College St., Perryville,