The Atlantic School Board, Wednesday night, approved during an electronic session, Snyder and Associates Engineers advertising for bids for the west high school parking lot project. They also approved setting their meeting March 10th as the date for a public hearing on the project, which the engineer’s estimate says will run $840,000, including contingencies.

Snyder’s Dave Sturm told the Board the parking lot will be replaced with 7-inch concrete, and will include an additional 17- 20-additional parking stalls without adding extra concrete. They plan to recycle the existing concrete and add more draining tile, according to Sturm.

The project also includes the widening of the entryway into the high school parking lot, along with the replacement of the front entryway sidewalk. Bids requests along with the plans and specifications are set to be posted on Thursday, Feb. 11th. Sturm said bids are due back prior to the March 10 School Board meeting. He expects they will find four or five interested contractors for the project. The School Board also awarded the Middle School roofing project to McDermott & Son Roofing for $122,529.87. The engineer’s cost estimate was $135,000, but McDermott & Son’s bid  came in nearly 10-percent below that.

In other business, the Board held a public hearing on the 2021-22 School Calendar, during which there were no comments received. Later on in the meeting, the Board voted to approve the Calendar as presented. They also approved 2020-21 academy programs through Iowa Western Community College, an overnight Music Department trip to Florida during the 2021 Spring Break, and the resignation of 4th Grade Teacher Janet Hascall, who Superintendent Steve Barber said has been in education for more than 38 years, with at least 25 years in Atlantic. Hascall, he said, has decided it’s time to retire. He wished her the best for putting in all the time and energy to makes a difference for the kids. Board Vice President Nick Hunt said “Janet has been loyal, and her husband (Phil Hascall) has served on the School Board. She’s been a faithful teacher, and we’ll miss her.”

The Board approved Contract Recommendations for: Steve Anderson, Route Bus Driver; Mark Vavricek, Special Ed car driver; Shannon Hayden, MS/HS Schuler Food Service, and Kassidy Edwards, MS Special Ed. Paraeducator.