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MENTONE -ÊTippecanoe Valley is going forward with a new wastewater treatment plant for the high school.
Monday, the school board voted to proceed with the new plant. Estimated cost is around $500,000.
When Mark Sullivan, Common Wealth Engineering, was asked how much architectural work was needed for the project, Sullivan said, "None. It would strictly be engineering." He said most of the work can be done in coordination with Superintendent Dr. Daniel Kramer and Valley staff.
Valley can expect two to four bidders on the project, Sullivan said, adding that the current bidding environment is volatile. Fuel prices are having an affect on bids. Sullivan said contractors are taking a real beating on PVC piping because it's petroleum based.
The project will be broken into three phases. First, Sullivan said, is design, then bidding and finally, construction. The project can be stopped at any time along the way.
With approval Monday, Sullivan said he can get the designs to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management in about 45 days. IDEM will review the plans, which will take another 45 to 60 days. The bids could be ready by January or February.
Enrollment at Valley is up 26 students from last year, Kramer said.
Akron Elementary has 467 students, up from 455 last year; Mentone Elementary, 527, up from 498 during the 2004-05 school year; TVMS has 492 students, down from 563; and the high school, including students at Burket Alternative School and the foreign exchange students, has 732 students, up from 676 in 2004-05.
Kramer attributed growth to move-in students.
In other business, the board:
• Heard on first reading changes to school board policy regarding entrance age, early entrance to kindergarten, exit interview designee, display of the United States flag, Pledge of Allegiance and moment of silence. Kramer said he will ask the board to approve the changes at the Nov. 14 meeting.
