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The Mountain Home School Board approved new turf for Bomber Stadium in May’s meeting. Superintendent of Mountain Home Public Schools Dr. Jake Long in Thursday’s meeting presented bids, highlighting the lowest at just over $326,000. Dr. Long says the bids are lower than anticipated and the funds are available from fund 3000, a building fund that comes from general revenue funds, which has approximately $870,000. Long says if the project is to be complete before the 2017-2018 school year, action would need to be taken so the project could be complete by late August.
Board member Ben Strider points out the field at Bomber Stadium is used by many other organizations, not affiliated with the school district, saying it would be easier to count the days the field wasn’t in use.
Board member Neal Pendergrass says when the present turf was put in 11 years ago, the Bomber Booster Foundation worked hard to garner support and funding through advertising spaces at the stadium. He says the board made a promise to the foundation to reciprocate the efforts in the future. Approval of the new turf would satisfy that agreement. The board unanimously agreed.
Dr. Long says an “out of the box” discussion with Mike Walker, Director of Auxiliary Services, could lead to the old turf being used in other areas of the school district, specifically in rocky playground areas.
In other school board news, the board in executive session approved the hiring of Steve Morris as Assistant Principal to Hackler Intermediate School to replace Cassy Barnhill who is transferring.
The board also approved an increase to school meals. The USDA says free meals cannot support the price of paid lunches. Federal law requires local education agencies participating in the federal National School Lunch Program ensure that schools are providing the same level of support for lunches served to students who are not eligible for free or reduced meals. The price for full paid students in grades kindergarten through seventh will be $2.25 and eight through 12th grade will be $2.50.
Unanimous approvals were also given budget, policy and fund revisions as well as fund transfers.
A newly revised athletic student handbook was approved as well as a computer server upgrade which will streamline technology usage and help ensure students across the district will have less problems with a server going down.
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