The Bernie School Board accepted a bid to repair, seal and stripe the parking lot. The bid was from Causey Co. LLC for $9,360. Bids were also received from Bootheel Striping and Asphalt and Robertson Bridge Utility Asphalt. The board is also looking at the possibility of adding a new parking lot addition on the south side of the high school in the future.
Additional projects are also being examined. The board is looking at a project to replace the partitions in the restrooms across campus. Additionally the partitions in the girls locker room shower would be replaced. Partitions would be added to the upstairs boys locker room shower. Currently the upstairs boys locker room is without partitions in the shower area. The board will also look at replacing linoleum in some of the restrooms. This project was tabled in order to gather additional information.
The board is also looking at replacing the padding along the wall and stage in the high school gym. The new padding would run the length of the wall and stage.
The elementary gym floor is another project. The current floor is green and orange and wavy. The floor would be sanded to a smooth finish and repainted. The floor would be blue around the perimeter like the high school gym but will not have the logos on the floor. The board accepted a bid from MO Floor Company for $21,600.
Elementary principal Tommie Ellenburg presented the elementary handbook for the board’s approval. She said the book would have some updates. Among them are updates to communications with parents/guardians. The school’s Facebook pages will now be listed. The pages are in use but not listed in the handbook. Updated food cost and attendance policy updates will be included. Social media sources and TV will be listed as sources to receive closing, cancelations and schedule changes. The dress code has some minor modifications. The board approved the book.
Ellenburg also stated that parents would be allowed to attend the talent show and awards program. The talent show will be May 18 and the awards program on May 21.
Superintendent Dustin Hicks said summer school will operate without COVID-19 restrictions. This will serve as a trial run for opening the school without restrictions for the 2021-22 school year. He also informed the board a swarm of bees had recently been discovered in a oak tree at the elementary school. He said after the students had gone home for the day two beekeepers removed the bees. The bees were relocated to a bee farm. Hicks said the tree would need to be removed soon. The tree is hollow and could attract more bees as well as be a risk to fall.
The district will enter into agreement with the Bloomfield School District for Speech Language services. The agreement will be a 60/40 split with Bloomfield. The speech therapist will work three days a week at Bloomfield and two at Bernie.
The board approved both the facilities and special services evaluations. The facilities evaluation ensures the district’s buildings and grounds are appropriate and adequate to allow for the accomplishments of the district’s goals. The special services evaluation ensures the district provides comprehensive services for all disabled children as required by the Individuals With Disabilities Act.
In the executive session the board reviewed the classified staff evaluations and approved the rehiring of the classified staff.