DEARBORN, Mo. — The North Platte Board of Education held a special session to discuss potential projects but didn’t take any action Wednesday, Dec. 7 at North Platte Junior High School.
Last week, Incite Design Studio, under contract with the district for architectural designs, presented the board with a potential floor plan of a new junior high school for consideration. The board also discussed the possibility of potential construction and renovation options for the junior high and elementary, including replacing the roofs for both schools.
The board continues to mull a potential no-tax increase ballot initiative and plans to further discuss the matter at Wednesday, Dec. 21 regular session. Ballot language for the April election would need to be in by the first of next year.
The board has not made a decision regarding a potential ballot issue, but is planning to discuss the issue further at the next regular meeting which will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 21.
The district formed a long-range planning committee earlier this year in order to prioritize needs, taking a look at the potential replacement of school buildings or upgrades to existing ones.
Potential projects discussed so far include renovations or replacement of the junior high school in Dearborn, Mo. — the oldest portion of the high school/junior high campus and the original high school. There are also roofing projects and the potential addition of band/choir rooms and/or a safe room or shelter area on the high school campus like the one already in place at North Platte Intermediate School in Edgerton, Mo.
Some of the other possible projects that could occur are technology upgrades and replacing windows and HVAC systems.
On Wednesday, Nov. 16, the board voted to approve a contract with Incite to begin accessing the needs of the district. The district chose Incite out of 10 respondents to a request for qualifications. The board narrowed the list down to four and went on to assess qualifications of personnel to manage projects, references from prior clients and overall planning experience for each.
Three finalists were named, and in October, the board voted to allow superintendent Karl Matt to begin negotiations on a contract with Incite.