District Improvement Update
by Bev Mortimer
The USD 333 Board of Education took action in the May 2008 meeting to purchase a new school bus. The low bid of $106,603.03 from Midwest Bus Sales was accepted by the Board. The new Thomas bus has a rear engine and air conditioning; new features for the Concordia Schools. The bus was delivered on October 16, 2008, and will make it's first road trip soon.
In September of 2008, the Board voted to accept a low bid of $208,975 from A-Lert Roof systems for a standing seam metal roof, for Concordia Jr./Sr. High School. The process of installation has begun, and the metal roof will cover the slanted parts of the original high school building. This includes the old gym, auditorium, an art room and drama classroom.
These projects, as well as other major equipment purchases and facility upgrades, are funded through the capital outlay budget. The CMS library expansion project, in a preliminary planning stage, is an example of an upcoming project that would be funded through capital outlay, if approved by the Board. The capital outlay mill levy makes up 5.5 mills of the overall USD 333 budget of 47.667 mills. The capital outlay fund budget has approximately $790,000 available for use, and has accumulated to this amount over the past few years. Capital outlay is the only fund in which the district can carryover funds from year to year.
