By SARAH PARKER | County Line Editor
FEMA turned down the Royall School District for a $4 million Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities grant for the second year in the row on Aug. 1, leaving the board of education to modify aspects of its forthcoming building project.
At a special meeting Tuesday, the board agreed to move forward with the building project, only now its new gymnasium will not also be a FEMA-certified tornado and wind shelter. That change also will allow the district to scale back on construction costs to make up for the loss of the $4 million, as the district will no longer attempt to meet more-expensive FEMA standards.
The board generally agreed to start the project as soon as possible, citing that construction costs were likely to continue escalating in the coming months.
In April, Royall School District voters approved a $10.9 million referendum funding a range of building upgrades, including a new gymnasium, a connecting corridor between the two district buildings, a new space for agriculture education and a new art room, and other enhancements.
The district is working with FEH, an architectural and engineering firm based in Dubuque, Iowa, and Kramer Construction. FEH will provide a more detailed, revised design schematic for the project. In the meantime, the board agreed to proceed with site preparation and work on the parking lot starting this fall. The rest of the project has not been bid.
On a related note, the district has learned that a water main that runs under the school’s parking lot serves only the school district and is not part of the City of Elroy’s overall water system. Therefore, it will not have to be moved to accommodate construction. A hydrant already is in place at one end, and a new hydrant will be installed at the other. The new building will not be built over the main.
Employee health insurance to change
Because WEA Trust will stop offering health insurance by the end of the year, Royall plans to obtain coverage through a new company, Group Health Trust, starting Oct. 1.
The cost to the district will not change, and the amount employees already have spent toward their deductibles can be rolled over to the new plan. The $3,000/$6,000 also will remain unchanged.
Likewise, employees for the most part will be able to see the same providers. Independent providers — e.g., chiropractors or mental health providers — may or may not be covered. Prescription drug formularies may not precisely match WEA’s coverage either.
Suzie Hoag of USI Insurance Services, a benefit consulting company, worked with the district to contract with the new provider. USI already serves as an adviser to about 125 school districts throughout the state.
Other business
• The board hired Josh Benson, son of new superintendent Tom Benson, as a high school English teacher. The sole applicant, Benson has an English degree but does not have teacher certification. He has received a Department of Public Instruction emergency license, and Tom Benson suggested he would work toward getting a teaching license. Board member Ryan Preuss voted against the hire.
• Also, the board hired Karen Sparling as a limited-term third-grade teacher.
