The Cape Girardeau Board of Education Tuesday opened four bids for the renovation of Jefferson Elementary School and accepted a low bid from Sides Construction Co. of $1,494,333 to perform renovations and additions at Central Junior High School.

Bids on the renovation of Jefferson Elementary School were tabled for consideration.

The resignation of Franklin Elementary School principal James Watkins was one of six certified-staff resignations accepted by the board during a noon meeting.

Watkins, who has worked as an educator for more than 29 years, has served as a principal in the school district for the past 10 years. He said although school has been all he has known and the decision to leave wasn't easy, he is retiring because it "looks good right now."

School board members have accepted a total of 22 certified-staff resignations since mid-April, when they approved an early retirement incentive for teachers, counselors and administrators. The measure was adopted as a means of eliminating about $1 million from the district's operating budget for the next school year to correct past overspending.

Administrators had originally estimated 14 educators would accept the incentive, which would have meant about $170,000 in savings in the next school year after some six new teachers were retained at lower salaries. It is unclear what the actual savings will be for the next school year because administrators are unsure how many new teachers will now be needed.

As a nonagenda item, board member Steve Wright made a motion for the board to adjourn into closed session to discuss "hiring, firing and disciplining" of an identifiable individual. David Goncher seconded the motion. After a 20-minute closed session, the public meeting reconvened, but no announcement was made regarding action taken during closed session, and the meeting adjourned.

The state open meetings law permits such action after an "affirmative public vote of the majority of a quorum ... on the question of closing a public meeting or vote and the specific reason for closing that public meeting or vote."

Any vote on a final decision to hire, fire, promote or discipline an employee must be made available to the public within 72 hours of the close of the meeting where the action occurred.

BIDS FOR JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY

Bids opened Tuesday for additions and renovations to Jefferson Elementary School:-- Kiefner BrothersBase bid: $2,003,000Rock removal unit cost (trench): $350/cubic yardRock removal unit cost (open area): $125/cubic yardDrill piers unit cost in excess of 24 feet: $75/lineal ft.Completion date: 300 calendar daysChange order percentage: 15%Plumbing work bid: $91,000HVAC work bid: $496,895Electrical/fire alarm work bid: $253,455-- Penzel ConstructionBase bid: $1,921,000Rock removal unit cost (trench): $250/cubic yardRock removal unit cost (open area): $100/cubic yardDrill piers unit cost in excess of 24 feet: $82/lineal ft.Completion date: 180 calendar daysChange order percentage: 15%Plumbing work bid: $91,000HVAC work bid: $497,000Electric/fire alarm work bid: $253,000-- Sides ConstructionBase bid: $1,898,333Rock removal unit cost (trench): $350/cubic yardRock removal unit cost (open area): $325/cubic yardDrill piers unit cost in excess of 24 feet: $100/lineal ft.Completion date: 245 calendar daysChange order percentage: 15%Plumbing work bid: $91,000HVAC work bid: $496,895Electric/fire alarm work bid: $253,455-- Zoellner ConstructionBase bid: $2,016,800Rock removal unit cost (trench): $300/cubic yardRock removal unit cost (open area): $150/cubic yardDrill piers unit cost in excess of 24 feet: $40/lineal ft. in dirt, $172/lineal ft in rockCompletion date: 280 calendar daysChange order percentage: 15%Plumbing work bid: $115,000HVAC work bid: $660,000Electric/fire alarm work bid: $278,000