Morgan County School Board heard presentations Thursday night from three architectural firms who are interested in doing the design and engineering work for a proposed new Priceville High School.

The proposals were submitted in person by representatives of Barganier Davis Sims of Montgomery. Godwin Barnett Woods of Decatur and Lathan and Associates of Birmingham. Each was allowed 20 minutes to speak to the board uninterrupted, followed by a 10-minute question and answer session.

The architects spent most of their time talking about staff, services and successes with prior school construction projects. Barganier Davis Sims and Lathan Associates used power point to illustrate school campuses they have designed while Godwin Barnett Woods pointed to local clients with whom they have worked. They pointed to the new Hartselle aquatic center, which is under construction, as an example of their work.

Some of the questions board members raised related to the cost of construction and the amount of time required to build a new school.

Rick Lathan said construction cost is running around $125 per sq. ft., based on his firm’s experience with a new high school it designed for Calera.

“You can expect a high school project to be in planning for six months and 18 months in construction,” he pointed out.

Another topic that was raised with a question was a new state law that requires a safe room to be a part of any new school construction project.

A representative of Lathan and Associates said his firm has designed five safe rooms in schools since the state law was passed in July 2010; however, he pointed out than none of them have been tested under tornado conditions. He said any part of a school—gym, auditorium, hallways–might be used as a safe room as long as building specifications are followed. They include a 12-inch thick concrete wall with concrete cap, no windows and must have toilets and first aid supplies. They also must be able to stand up under the pressure of 250-mph wind.

Superintendent Bill Hopkins said he expects to have an architect recommendation for the board’s consideration at its next meeting in April.

The board approved a low bid of $8,580 from School Insites for district-wide web hosting for the board of education and approved a bid of $152,890.40 from Information Transport Solutions for Morgan County School District connections upgrade and wireless installation.

The boards acted on other matters as follows:

• Approved revisions to existing board policy GBC (recruitment). The first reading of proposed revisions was conducted at the 2/9/12 work session; second reading was conducted at the 3/8/12 work session.

• Approved the 2012-2013 Morgan County School calendar as selected by majority vote of MCS employees.

• Approved a request from Kristy Oldacre, Union Hill School, to use the Union Hill School gymnasium to host the 2012 Wildcats Basketball Camp June 18-22.

• Approved list of mathematics textbooks for use in Morgan County Schools.

Out-of-state field trip requests were approved as follows:

• Approved a request from Brewer High School to permit a DECA student and chaperone to travel to Salt Lake City, Utah April 27-May 3 for the International DECA competition.

• Approved a request from Brewer and Priceville High Schools to allow six to 10 ninth through 12th grade students to go on an educational tour of England, Ireland and Wales April 18-26.

• Approved a request from Danville-Neel Elementary School, Danville Middle School and Priceville Junior High School to allow 14 students to travel to New York City for a historical tour June 5-10.

Approved a request from West Morgan High School to allow15 tenth through 12th grade students to travel to Chattanooga, Tenn. to visit the Tennessee Aquarium May 8.

• Approved a request from West Morgan High School to allow a DECA student and chaperone to travel to Salt Lake City, Utah, for the International DECA competition April 28-May 3.

• Approved a revised date of April 4, 2012, for a field trip request form West Morgan High School, previously approved by the board. Students will travel to Six Flags in Atlanta, Ga. to attend math and science day.

• Approved a revised date of May 8 for a field trip request from West Morgan High School, previously approved by the board. Students will travel to the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, Ga.

The following personnel items were approved on the recommendation of Superintendent Bill Hopkins.

• Approved a contract with the following employees to serve as High Hopes tutors at Danville High School during the 2011-2012 school year: Tonya Finch, Bethany Smitherman, Holly Little, Leslie Aeterburn and Juanita Penn.

• Rescinded agreements with Fred Childs, Rhonda Smith and Julie Mooney previously approved by the board on Sept. 8 (to serve as aides on special needs buses)) and place Childs, Smith and Mooney on the appropriate Morgan County Schools salary schedule (bus aide) for their services effective Mar. 9, 2012.

• Approved a homebound contract with Kelly Hopkins, effective April 24, 2012. He will serve as a homebound instructor for eligible students.

• Approved an agreement with Phil McCutcheon to serve as a bus driver transporting ELL students in the afternoon (Wednesday and Thursday only) from school to home. This agreement is effective Feb. 29, 2012, and will cease when funding runs out. Payment will be from Federal funds at a rate of $25 per day.

Approved an agreement with Carolyn Parker to serve as a bus driver transporting ELL students in the afternoon (Tuesday and Thursday only) from school to home, This agreement is effective Feb. 28, 2012, and will cease when funding runs out. This will be paid from federal funds at the rate of $25 per day.

• Approved a request for a catastrophic leave of absence, as needed, from Gloria Brooks, custodian at Falkville High School, effective Feb. 21-24, 2012.

• Approved a supplement contract for David Wood as assistant baseball coach at Falkville High School for the 2011-2012 season. He is a non-staff coach and will be accompanied by certified personnel when interacting with students.

• Approved request for catastrophic leave of absence, as needed, for Amanda Haskins, teacher at Priceville Elementary School, effective Feb. 8 through May 25, 2012.

• Accepted notice of retirement from Ruth Speaks, teacher at Priceville Junior High School, effective June 1, 2012.

• Accepted notice of retirement from Debi Finley, Title I teacher at Sparkman School, effective April 30, 2012.

• Accepted notice of retirement from Rita Hanners, library aide at Sparkman School, effective at the end of the 2011-2012 school year.

• Approved Carmen Nicole Echols as a part-time CNP worker at West Morgan Elementary School, effective Mar. 9, 2012, until the end of the 2011-2012 school year. She is replacing Tammy Beason who transferred.

• Accepted notice of retirement from Linda Davidson, fifth grade teacher at West Morgan Middle School, effective at the end of the 2011-2012 school year.

• Accepted the resignation of Keith Harris as girl’s basketball coach at West Morgan High School, effective Mar. 9, 2012.

• Approved the transfer of Beth Corbett from CNP worker to CNP assistant manager at West Morgan High School, effective Mar. 9, 2012. She is replacing Linda Bice who transferred.

• Approved Benny Prater as a countywide bus driver, effective Mar. 8, 2012. He is replacing Randy Robinson who resigned.

• Accepted notice of retirement from Donna Jarnagin, math teacher at West Morgan High School, effective at the end of the 2011-2012 school year.

• Approved a revived supplement contract for Sarah Denard as assistant softball coach at West Morgan High School, effective during the 2011-2012 school year. The supplement will be paid through county funds, not local school funds.