Lightning bolt deals $100K jolt to New Bremen cooling system

NEW BREMEN - School board members on Wednesday approved spending up to $100,901 on a new cooling system for the high school building.

The building's current air conditioner needed to be replaced after having been struck by lightning on July 22, district officials said. Board members approved waiving competitive bidding and passed emergency legislation to purchase the system from Slagle Mechanical of Sidney, which also will install the new 120-ton Trane unit.

Superintendent Jason Schrader said Gilbane Building Co., Van Wert, has been selected as construction manager at risk for the planned new K-8 building. The new facility, with Garmann-Miller & Associates as architect, is projected to be complete for the 2020-2021 school year.

He also noted the high school building, which was constructed in 1999, has been paid off, and the remaining funds have been transferred into the permanent improvement fund for future building maintenance and improvements.

In other news, members discussed the too-close-to-call school board election race and the resulting recount. A recount, which must be conducted when the difference between the winning and the losing candidates' votes is less than 0.5 percent, confirmed newcomers Suzanne Wells and Michelle Bambauer will join incumbent Shelly Busse on the board at their Jan. 10 organizational meeting. Wells and Bambauer will replace outgoing members Doug Hall and Tom Paul, who were presented gifts of appreciation and thanks from the remaining board members and Schrader.

Board members also,

• learned the district leadership team visited Bath and Kenton elementary schools on Nov. 29 to review possible design features to include in the new facility.

• reviewed the projected 2018-2019 school calendar. Classes are set to start on Aug. 22 and end on May 23. Graduation is slated for May 26, 2019.

• acknowledged the Americanism and Government test winners: seniors Cale Brackman and Katlyn Paulus, juniors Micah Condon and Andrea Heitkamp and sophomores Patrick Wells and Hannah Kramer. The students and their parents will be guests at the local American Legion birthday dinner in March.

• learned from high school principal Brian Pohl that 25 sophomores had recently toured Tri Star Career Compact and learned more about the courses of study the school offers.

• accepted a $500 HondaGo grant and a $100 donation from Mesco Supply for the high school robotics club.

• voted to keep board members' compensation per meeting at $40 per member. The current rate has been in effect since 1997.

• learned 46 junior high students are participating in a winter sport.