Stew-Stras Board Members Approve Restroom Renovation Project

The Stewardson-Strasburg Board of Education Wednesday awarded bids for a grade school restroom renovation project.

The project will also involve grade school sanitary piping renovation and grade school and high school flooring abatement and replacement. Lester Construction of Vandalia was named the general contractor with a bid of $618,220, while CENTRO will do the abatement work for $180,250.

The total price tag is $922,280 and the work is to be completed this summer.

Superintendent Michele Lindenmeyer told the Board that their district, like other districts in Illinois, have not been reimbursed this year for categorical expenditures such as lunch and breakfast programs, transportation and special education. In the case of Stew-Stras, the district will miss out on between $90,000 and $134,000 and Lindenmeyer said it's doubtful the district will receive any funds this year.

The Board to award a bid to Allred's for refinishing the junior high and high school gym floors, agreed to purchase new junior high Science textbooks, and purchased technology equipment to provide data storage and protection. Board members also heard that the Stewardson-Strasburg Education Foundation is offering two competitive $250 mini-grants to teachers for those who wish to apply.

The Board learned student Tanner Clark has advanced to state WYSE competition at the U of I, and that discussion is almost completed on offering a dual credit English Composition course with Eastern Illinois University. Also, Michael Mohr was approved as a volunteer assistant high school baseball coach, and Matt Jones was dismissed as a part-time non-tenured teacher as of the end of the school year.