Selma City Schools discusses planned, completed facility projects

Published 6:00 am Friday, April 15, 2022

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During a meeting held Monday, the Selma City Schools Board of Education received updates from Superintendent Dr. Avis Williams and Director of Operations Joe Peterson Jr. on multiple planned facility projects and several completed projects.

Williams said several planned projects on the horizon include roof repairs for R.B. Hudson Middle School’s cafeteria, annex and main building, Payne Elementary, Clark Elementary, Sophia P. Kingston Elementary and Edgewood Elementary.

“Under that first chart, you’ll see some estimates per school as it relates to those,” she said. “We’ve begun getting proposals also … We don’t have a completion date yet because there’s still some work to be done before we get to that point.”

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The estimates, provided by Garland Manufacturer, value the R.B. Hudson repairs at $46,125, the Payne repair at $327,572 and the Clark repairs at $111,780. Roof Asset Management, Inc. submitted a proposal for the R.B. Hudson and Payne repairs, and Tremco submitted a proposal for the R.B. Hudson repairs. No bids have been awarded for these projects.

District 4 Board Member Dr. Tanya Miles asked Williams if any insurance claims had been made regarding the roofs and inquired if there had been any storm damage done to the roofs.

Williams said the planned repairs for the roofs were based on a system where the roofs are scheduled for repairs when they come due for it and that the repairs weren’t directly tied to any storm damage. She added she would follow-up to check if any storm damage occurred and ensure any insurance money paid into the cost of repairs is taken into account.

Williams said restrooms renovations, expected to cost $1,337,175, will be taking place at all schools in the system, but the schools would be prioritized and surveyed to determine greater needs.

She added she was still working on getting bids and Lathan & Associates Architects are drawing up plans and documents for bid.

Other projects on the horizon include an estimated $1,300,000 window replacement project for R.B. Hudson, Meadowview, Clark, Payne and Edgewood; paint renovations at all schools; electrical upgrades and backup generators at R.B. Hudson, Edgewood, Clark, Payne, Meadowview, Selma High and the Central Office; and flooring renovations and updates valued at $500,000 for Kingston, Payne, Clark, R.B. Hudson, Meadowview and Selma High.

Peterson said most of the upcoming projects would most likely begin during the summer months and be conducted in phases.

“We also have to be aware that we have supply chain interruptions and supply chain issues that’s going to cause a number of items that we need to do the work to be delayed in delivery,” he said. “Some of these jobs are going to run over into the school year before they’re completed.”

Completed projects as of March 27 include asbestos removal at a cost of $10,700 from R.B. Hudson’s dining room flooring in the cafeteria and $,1495 spent to paint the kitchen area of Selma High School.

Projects currently underway involve several heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems within the system.

Williams said units replaced at Selma High School, Payne, Edgewood and R.B. Hudson were awaiting state inspections and would be completed by the end of the month. The cost to replace those units totaled $341,250.

Another series of HVAC replacements at Clark and the Central Office, expected to cost $280,000, is set to begin in May. Williams said parts have been ordered for the project and some units have been delivered.

In other actions, the board:

• Unanimously approved financial statements and bank reconciliations;

• Voted to approved the minutes from the board meeting held March 8;

• Recognized Selma High School senior Alexias Walker for being named The Selma Times-Journal Player of the Year in girls basketball;

• Celebrated members of the Selma High School E-Sports team, Tedric White, Tevin Lewis, Seth Scott, Ja’Darrius Rozzell, Nile Davis, and Darron Davis-Hatcher, and their coach, Daryl Walker;

• Recognized student Cameron Gayle for designing the school’s Autism Awareness Month T-Shirts;

• Honored assistant principals for National Assistants Principals Week and media center employees for National School Librarian Day;

• Congratulated senior Devon Benjamin for placing third in the Selma Rotary Club’s Renee Kelley Wilkerson Scholarship Competition;

• Received an updated report on the School of Discovery from Williams;

• Heard a presentation from representatives of MRaine Industries, LLC, in regards to the proposed water purchase agenda item;

• Discussed plans for the transition process as the board seeks out a new superintendent candidate;

• Unanimously approved several consent agenda items, including a 60-month lease renewal with Pitney Bowes at a rate of $239.20 a month to be billed quarterly, a district-wide renewal of Google licenses, the purchase of 1,000 Google Chromebooks to replace damaged and outdated Chromebooks using Title I carryover funds and a field trip request for 91 students and 12 adults from Kingston Elementary School to visit the Georgia Aquarium;

• Unanimously approved purchasing water from MRaine Industries, LLC, makers of Eleven86 bottled water for each school at a rate of $486 per pallet. Each pallet contains 1,728 16.9 ounce bottles of water. Randolph-Obomanu requested the board seek out smaller bottles of water to purchase for younger students.

• Tabled discussion for the 2022-23 Calendar Reconciliation;

• Voted to go into executive session for the purpose of discussing good name and character. No taken was taken during the executive session;

• Unanimously approved ending the executive session and resuming the board meeting;

• Approved the following personnel actions: Retirement of Janice Roseberry, resignation of Shine Miree, hiring of LaKesha Sankey and Tamara McClain, supplemental employment of James Sewell and Miguel Catlin, termination of Brenda Owens, leave of absence for Mashika Tempero-Culliver, administrative leave without pay for Ru’Miya Jackson and probationary principal contract for Alisha Cleveland.

The board will hold a called board meeting Monday to discuss qualifications for new superintendent applicants. The board’s regular meeting will be held May 10 at 5 p.m.