Oct 22, 2002 By Steve Ostrosky 3 min read

JEFFERSON – Most of the exterior work on a new fieldhouse for the Jefferson-Morgan School District could be complete by Thanksgiving, according to Superintendent Dr. Charles Rembold. Rembold discussed the project at Monday’s board meeting as directors approved a transfer of $12,813 from the capital reserve fund to Jefferson-Morgan Athletics, Inc., a non-profit corporation formed earlier this year to handle the fieldhouse construction.

To date, the district has transferred $40,000 to the corporation to handle labor costs, while another $50,000 has been spent on materials, including concrete, plumbing and the steel structure itself. According to business manager Michael Conte, a total of $144,000 has been budgeted from the capital reserve fund in the 2002-03 academic year for the fieldhouse project.

Rembold said the steel structure is nearing completion and expects that siding and insulation will be delivered to the site later this week. Concrete has been poured and utilities have been brought to the site, he added.

The district chose to use in-house staff and community volunteers on the project as a way of saving the district money, Rembold said. He said he is hopeful the building will be under roof and the exterior completely assembled by the Thanksgiving holiday.

Directors voted in June to approve a lease between the district and the corporation that was approved by the state Department of Education. According to the terms, the one-year agreement gives the corporation time to build the fieldhouse while the district will use its existing athletic facilities in the interim.

Directors approved a motion Monday ratifying the signature of Board President Ellen Hildebrand on the lease for the fieldhouse site, an action Rembold said solidifies the board’s position from June.

Conte said the district has also received a state grant and money from fundraising and donations to help defray some of the costs of the project, which has an estimated pricetag of $180,000. Earlier this year, Rembold said the fieldhouse will not be fully ready for use until next fall.

Rembold also announced that today is the start of the district’s breakfast program for elementary and middle school students as part of a pilot program approved earlier this year by the state Department of Education. He said the receipts coming in should cover the cost of the program and it will be assessed to see if enough students take advantage of the program to make it permanent within the district.

Directors approved adding policies regarding gifted education and English as a Second Language to the district’s strategic plan. Donna Furnier, director of federal programs, said the policies are in place and the curriculum to accompany both initiatives will come to the board for approval in either November or December.

Meanwhile, directors voted to hire Jamie Williamson for an elementary special education position, approved the posting of four two-hour temporary cafeteria positions for the breakfast program, and voted to hire Gary Basinger and James A. Scritchfield as assistant wrestling coaches.

Directors also accepted the resignations of secondary math teacher Tricia J. Reposky and Carol Yankura, an elementary cafeteria employee. Directors voted to post and advertise both vacant positions.

The board considered approving Conte’s goals and objectives for the current school year, but opted to table the matter until the Nov. 18 board meeting.