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NORTH MANCHESTER - The Manchester Junior High School roof replacement project - to begin this summer - may be completed within the next two years, instead of three years as the school board first anticipated, Assistant Superintendent Kim Thurston said Tuesday.
"The bulk of the work will be in the first year," Thurston told school board members.
Thurston said pricing reflects that the project may be completed sooner. He also said a contract will be awarded April 17 for the first phase of the roof replacement project.
Thurston said Luther Mock, of Martin Riley Mock Architects/Consultants, Fort Wayne, will present the bid at the next board business meeting April 17.
Advertising for bids began last month, bids were opened March 12 and Mock will present a recommendation to board members April 17 on the successful bidder and on whom to award the contract.
Martin Riley Mock was hired in January to oversee the roofing project. The contract was for $15,800 (all-inclusive).
The roofing project will be completed in phases, beginning with the worst areas this summer. Thurston said the work will be completed no later than 2003.
In other business:
• Superintendent Connie Curry said kindergarten enrollment took place last week. Eighteen students are enrolled at Laketon Elementary School and 78 students at Manchester Elementary School.
Curry said it was "disheartening" to see a total of only 96 students in kindergarten enrolled for the next school year. This year, approximately 110 students are enrolled in kindergarten.
• Wayne Swihart, Wabash County Retired Teachers representative, attended Tuesday's school board meeting. He told board members he was "very pleased" with Manchester Community Schools system and the education program.
Board president Kent Trickle thanked Swihart for his attendance and invited him to the next board meeting in two weeks.
"It's nice to hear when we do good work," Trickle said.
• Approved Dwight Haynes as a full-time custodian at MHS.
• Accepted resignations from the following: Cindy Bucher as assistant gymnastics coach at MHS and Kent Marshall as a MCS bus driver. Marshall's resignation is effective Friday.
• Granted professional leave requests for Mark Underwood and Marla Parson to attend a coaches clinic in Indianapolis April 20 and 21.
• The next school board meeting is April 17 at 7 p.m. in the media room at MHS. The public is invited to attend.
Manchester Community Schools Board of Trustees members are: president Kent Trickle, vice president Virginia Gunter, secretary Larry Miller, Todd Speicher, Sally Krouse, Brad Perrott and Thom Frantz. Superintendent is Connie Curry. Assistant superintendent is Kim Thurston.
