Kevin Zadina

    The Seward school board is moving forward with having master facilities plans developed. The board voted to give Superintendent Dr. Greg Barnes the go-ahead to line up three architectural firms to be interviewed.
     The board discussed the issue at the 5:30 study session and continued with the vote at the regular board meeting Dec. 10.
     The board will interview the firms on Wednesday, Jan 23. A meeting time is not available yet.
     The master facilities plan will tell the district what is good about current buildings and what needs to be repaired and changed for now and in the future.
     The board also talked about the status of the south high school parking lot for which the board is currently seeking paving bids. Barnes said the district is leaning towards having about two-thirds of the lot paved with asphalt and concrete gutters.
     Barnes is also pursuing bids to resurface the high school track, which is in need of repair. It won't cost the district anything to receive bids and a grant is available through the Department of Environmental Quality, which would pay for 25 percent for the project with the use of recycled tires from Nebraska.
     In other business, the board approved a bid from Rumery Sod and Sprinkler to install an in ground sprinkler system at the high school football field, which is to be installed by May 1, 2008.
     Rumery submitted a bid of $9,381.06 and Merle's Garden Center bid $12,200.
     The board heard from Seward High School Activities Director Steve Borer about playing Seward's high school football games at Concordia University. Borer was given permission from the board to follow up and provide more details regarding a price for the use of Concordia's facility.
     According to Borer, the only games to be played at Concordia would be the varsity football and soccer.
     Boror said that Concordia has no problem with SHS operating concessions or the booster club having hamburger feeds at the facility. The only difference is Pepsi products have to be sold at Concordia, but high school principal Chad Denker said high school's contract with Coke is up this year.
     The board also approved the 2006-2007 audit completed by Dana F. Cole and Company, LLC, the SPS alternative school handbook and the content agenda.
     The board went to executive session at 8:40 p.m. to discuss superintendent Barnes evaluation and personnel issues. The next board meeting is Monday, Jan. 14.