Board awards contract for HMS cooling

HURON — The Huron School Board maneuvered through a light agenda at its regular meeting Monday night, with several housekeeping items, a renewal of insurance for the 2021-22 school year and the awarding of a contract for a new chiller for Huron Middle School highlighting the brief meeting.

On the recommendation of Associated Consulting Engineering, Inc., of Sioux Falls, the board unanimously approved that the bid for the new chiller go to Allied Plumbing & Heating of Pierre, in the amount of $770,000, which is below the engineering estimate for the project. The board also approved an alternate bid for $122,000, which will allow both middle school gymnasiums to be cooled as well.

Only two bids for the project were received.

The contract will be implemented by ACE and work will be completed during the summer.

The board approved renewing its three major insurance programs through the Associated School Boards of South Dakota.

Business Manager Kelly Christoperson said that the district’s liability and property insurance through ASBSD will total $376,601 for the coming school year, but that premium did not include cyber coverage. He expects that to effect the premium when the coverage is offered.

Workmen’s Compensation insurance for the school district is also handled through ASBSD, with the premium of $88,634. Christopherson noted that the premium reflects a $44,000 “rate relief” for the district and that coverage on the policy includes school board members and volunteers, as well as all other district staff.

The final insurance renewal on the agenda was the school district’s health insurance, which is also through ASBSD. Chrisopherson said that the school district would see a “zero percent” increase in premiums for the upcoming school year. The only change to the policy was a modification of the maximum out of pocket for plan holders.

In other action, the board:
• Approved a resolution renewing membership in the South Dakota High School Activities Association.
• Approved a request by the HHS Key Club to hold a “Homeless Sleep Out” on the school grounds May 7-8.
• Approved, as part of the consent agenda, three new hires, one new teacher contract and a total of eight resignations.

• Learned from Christopherson that the district has contracted for approximately 212,000 therms of natural gas with Northwestern Energy for the upcoming school year, for 42.8 cents per therm. Christopherson said that the price was slightly higher than the past two years. Most of the district’s buildings are heated with natural gas, including Huron High School, Middle School, all of the elementary school buildings as well as Huron Arena.
• Learned from Superintendent Terry Nebelsick that all remaining concerts for the school year will take place at Huron Arena, to allow for more spacing between participants. He said that this will include the annual Pops Concert fundraiser.
• Approved the use of a district school bus for the American Legion’s State Convention, which will be hosted by Huron’s American Legion Post 7 June 24-27. Post 7 will cover fuel costs and have one of the district’s drivers lined up to transport members to a banquet at the Beadle County Sportsman Club.
• Heard a reminder that today is Election Day for school board and city commission in Huron. Voting will take place at Huron Arena from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.