Fort Osage district continues to grow

Indian Trails Elementary, the fifth elementary school in the Fort Osage School District which is set to open in August, was the least of Assistant Superintendent John Ruddy’s worries at Tuesday’s Board of Education meeting.

“I’ll dispense with talking about Indian Trails as there’s pretty good stuff happening there as you all saw firsthand,” Ruddy said. Earlier in the day members of the board toured the building, which is ahead of schedule.

Ruddy said the remodeling of the culinary arts wing at the Career and Technology Center was making progress after preliminary plans left out the location of a sanitary sewer line, which he said will be installed sometime today.

“Interiorwise the progress is nice,” Ruddy said.

With May 28 – the last day of school – approaching, Ruddy said he is making the necessary arrangements for the upgrades at the four existing elementary schools.

“It is our responsibility to get those rooms that are set for demo or remodels ready for construction or demolition to start June 2,” Ruddy said.

According to Ruddy, there are still two libraries with contents needing to be moved as well as two administrative offices and 10 classrooms.

“We have our work cut out for us,” Ruddy said.

Another issue is the elementary-aged summer school at Elm Grove Elementary. Ruddy said the district has two-and-a-half days to move 15 classroom sets from Blue Hills or Cler-Mont for the kindergarten and first grade classes.

In other business, the board approved a payment in the amount of $201,052.80 to J&M Contracting for the remodel and addition work to be done at the four current elementary schools and the CTC. It also approved a payment in the amount of $868,720.50 to Straub Construction for work done at the Indian Trails Elementary School.