The Cape Girardeau Board of Education approved a bid during a special meeting Friday to install air-conditioning units at Alma Schrader and Clippard elementary schools.

After the equipment is installed, all five elementary buildings scheduled to open next year will be air-conditioned. Central Junior High is also air-conditioned.

"That will leave Schultz and the high school as the only buildings without air, which sort of eliminates half-days," said schools superintendent Dr. Dan Tallent. "The elementary students can stay all day, which in my mind helps the parents because usually the secondary kids can go home (if the school day is shortened due to heat) and be alright until the parents get home from work.

"Elementary students can't do that," he said.

Three bids were submitted for the installations, which are scheduled to begin in late June. Board members approved low bids of $150,922 for Alma Schrader and $156,220 for Clippard which were submitted by Thermal Mechanics Incorporated of St. Louis.

TMI, an equipment supplier, will be required to have equipment on-site by June 30 or be penalized $500 per day for each building. Tallent said board members emphasized the penalty amount because the late arrival of air-conditioning equipment at Jefferson Elementary School last summer resulted in a delay of the start of school.

"The penalty will ensure that doesn't happen again," Tallent said.

SCHOOL BIDS

Bids received for school construction.

Alma Schrader Elementary

Company Bid

TMI, $150,922

Trane, $188,507

Charles Clippard Elementary

Cape Win Air, $204,908

TMI, $156,220

Trane, $182,217