CCISD board awards bid for $4.2 million transportation facility

By BRITTANY FHOLER 
Cove Leader-Press 

The Copperas Cove Independent School District Board of Trustees approved awarding a $4.2 million bid to Mitchell Construction Company for the construction of the new transportation facility and approved more than $355,000 in budgeted purchases at its monthly meeting Tuesday evening.
The board chose Mitchell Construction Company as the vendor for the transportation facility to be located on Summers Rd. The estimated cost for construction of the facility was $4,441,000 and Mitchell Construction put in a bid for $4,240,000 which includes a contingency of $212,000. Once construction begins, it should take 201 days to complete, according to superintendent Dr. Joe Burns.  
The board approved the consent agenda, which included 33 new hires, the approval of out of state trips and the budgeted purchases exceeding $25,000. 
Out of state trips include Student 2 Student Training July 30-August 2, in Washington, D.C., at no cost to the district, due to being fully funded by HEB; the NAFIS Fall Conference, September 23-26, in Washington, D.C. for a cost of $14,393; the Military Child Education Coalition’s 19th Annual National Training Seminar July 31-August 2, in Washington, D.C., with airfare, hotel and meals covered by MCEC, and requiring $100 from local funds to cover transportation to and from airport.; and spending $240 to cover the cost of registration for training for a new AP Environmental Science teacher who is going to Washington, D.C. 
The board approved $355,523.50 in budgeted purchases to fund an agreement with Stetson & Associates for professional development for $60,000; a contract with Margo Pace for physical therapy services for $70,000; the purchase of 30 replacement HP desktop computers for the high school’s CTE Lab for $36,436.50; and the purchase of 180 HP Pro 11 G3 Netbooks for assessment and testing at both junior high campuses, along with Martin Walker and Clements/Parsons Elementary schools, totaling $38,637. This amount also includes funding Edgenuity, a credit recovery and student self-accelerated credit program, for $58,650; Imagine Learning, an English as a Second Language curriculum and program for $35,250, of which $30,000 will come from Title III funds; and iReady, a universal screener, for $86,550. 
The board approved a contract with Education Services Center XII in Waco, which provides professional development and other services to CCISD annually. This year’s proposed contract is $113,472.21, paid for with combination of budgeted funds and Title 1 Part C Migrant funds.
The board also approved renewing an agreement with the City of Copperas Cove for two full-time police officers at CCHS, costing $139,131 from budgeted funds.
The board approved agreements with Central Texas College to provide students with the opportunity to receive articulated credit and to enroll in dual credit enrollment courses that allow them to receive simultaneous academic credit or CTE credit from both the college and the high school. The CTE agreements include an Automotive Agreement, Welding Agreement, and, beginning Spring 2018, an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Agreement with CTC. There is also an agreement to establish a partnership between CCISD and CTC to meet the requirements as mandated by the State of Texas to develop and provide courses in college preparatory Mathematics and English Language Arts. The cost will be approximately $30,000. 
The board also approved an articulated credit agreement with Temple College, allowing students to utilize high school courses to meet program requirements in technical programs at Temple College, at no charge to the district or the student. 
The board approved the reappointing of 1SGT Taff Klepinger as the Military Property Custodian for JROTC for the 2017-2018 school year. 
They also approved the list of exempt courses, which includes Pre-AP, Dual Credit, Advanced Placement and GT courses, from the University Interscholastic League’s (UIL) “No Pass, No Play” provision.
The board approved revising the EIC (LOCAL) policy, beginning with the graduating class of 2021, to require equal weight be given for an Advanced Placement score of 3,4, or 5 or dual credit courses, instead of the previous policy allowing a greater weight for AP scores of 4 or 5 on the AP exam than for an AP score of 3 or for dual credit courses when GPAs for students are calculated.
The board recognized bus driver Willie Simeon, who is retiring after 24 years of service with CCISD; CCHS students Christopher Armstrong, Noah Luna and Emma Bodisch for excelling at National History Day; teacher Catherine Sharbeno, who is being recognized by the Texas State Historical Association recognition for outstanding achievement in the Texas History Day Program; and recognition of Girl Scout Troop #6120 and the Five Hills Scholarship Program for the Little Free Libraries project.