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MENTONE - A contract change with the Skillman Corp. caught members of the Tippecanoe Valley school board off guard Monday.
Bart York, senior vice president of Skillman, asked the board for an increase of $25,184. York said the increase in the contract was to cover a 3.5 percent increase in employees' salaries.
The original parameters in the contract called for construction of the Mentone project to begin June 1, 1996, at a cost of approximately $8 million and a duration of 16 months. The actual starting date was March 1998 at a cost of $8,796,921, also for 16 months.
The original fee in the contract was $399,747. After an increase of $25,184, the amended contract fee would be for $424,931.
York told the board that Skillman would delay invoicing the additional amount until after the project was completed and accepted by the corporation. He also offered the board no cost for the next feasibility study.
Board member Tom Weaver asked, "What is the value of the feasibility study?"
York said, "$3-$5,000. In your case $5,000 for one at the high school."
Board president Bruce Andrews told York the timing was confusing.
"Four months after we met at the October 28 hearing we looked at a budget of $7,800,000. Four months after we're aware of being 21 months behind schedule.
"It doesn't follow." Andrews also read in the Dec. 11, 1995, minutes where Skillman told the board there would be "no surprises." "At this point I'm surprised," Andrews said. "We're frustrated we didn't hear about this earlier."
York said, "It's our fault we delayed it. It's in the eyes of the beholder if it's a surprise. You have a very successful project. It's just contract language. If you think it's a surprise we will rescind this request. If you recognize this as contract language the request is still on the table."
Weaver told York that the "project has been going so well we want to treat you fairly."
York said, "You have treated us fairly. There is no problem. I put a lot of trust in what we say. $35,000 is not going to destroy our company or $35,000 is not going to destroy your school corporation. That word is much more important than the contract."
The board also heard a report on changes in the 1999 tax rate. The difference was due to a change in the 1999 property tax relief credit for Fulton County. The result was a decrease in the Fulton County property tax rates.
For Kosciusko County the combined 1999 advertised rate was $6.2092 and the 1999-combined actual rate was $5.5743, for a decrease of $0.6349.
Fulton County's combines 1999 advertised rate was $6.2092. The total 1999 actual rate was $5.3635, for a decrease of $0.8457.
School superintendent Dr. Karen Boling announced that the bus garage project has been completed with the final payments being made to Kinder Construction. It was also proposed that O'Henry Backhoe Service be hired to install the new lift station at the site. Since the problems were due to a design flaw, the architect will absorb the cost.
Burket principal Karen Shelley proposed that Burket be used as a pilot program for full-day kindergarten. Shelley said she is concerned about attendance. "It's about 3 percent lower and I feel that all-day kindergarten would improve attendance," she said.
Shelley proposed that the scheduling would be for three days a week and that the school day would start later for kindergartners than for other students.
Technology director Brad Hagg gave a presentation to the board on starting a class at the high school for Microsoft certification skills. He proposed a class for juniors and seniors from 1 to 3 p.m. every afternoon for hardware and software training at other schools. The high school would be authorized as a training partner.
Hagg said, "This is an excellent opportunity for students. However there is not enough personnel certified to teach it."
He told the board that he is certified to teach the course. "It's an excellent program and we would be the only high school in the state to offer it."
He said students must have their own transportation and would be required to go through a selection process.
