Board President Jason Gobin encouraged citizens on June 18 to reach out to Missouri state representatives after learning that the district’s highest revenue stream may be severely decreased.

Gobin attended the Missouri School Board Association’s (MSBA) summer summit, where they discussed budget cuts made at the state and federal level, and additional laws that will affect the local level.

“(Make) sure they know how bad the decisions that they are making for public education, and what it’s going to do to schools,” Gobin said. “Federal level is not going to be fully funded, state level will not be fully funded and the state is passing laws that will affect our local revenue, so all three main revenue streams that we bring in will be affected.”

Superintendent Brian Witt announced on June 18 that the Bourbon School District possesses two tractors that they don’t utilize on a regular basis, so he recommended surplusing them so they can be replaced with more useful equipment.

“We’re underutilizing two pieces of equipment that were sitting there. It’s costing more for us to maintain…than we actually use them,” Witt said.

He recommended that they send the Ford tractor out for bid themselves with a $1,000 reserve.

Instead of sending the John Deere tractor out for bid, Witt wants to look into trading it for a side-by-side and a four-wheeler. He believes that the school district could utilize both pieces of equipment better than the tractors.

“Field prep, snow removal. Our band could actually utilize (the four-wheeler),” Witt said. “We are one of the very few bands that do a field show that doesn’t have it, and if you would see what our band students have to do to get equipment on and off the field….”

Witt mentioned that other staff members have brought their personal equipment, which was used to help student athletes who have either been injured or in a medical situation.

Board Member Stephen Waldron agreed that a side-by-side would be useful, but was concerned about liability and insurance issues caused by purchasing a four-wheeler.

“I don’t personally see how it’s a benefit compared to the side-by-side with the truck bed,” Waldron said.

Board Member Ryan Cole said that it is easier to maneuver and make sharper turns with the four-wheeler.

A motion to surplus the tractors was approved with a 7-0 vote.

Tim Uelk, with KRJ Architecture, announced the bids that were submitted for the middle school roof project so one could be accepted. He said that four of the six proposed bids were eligible based on the bidding requirements.

Meinershagen Roofing and Sheet Metal bid $2,308,490, Weathercraft bid $2,342,000, Watkins Roofing bid $2,797,200 and $3,047,780 was bid by BEX Construction Services.

A motion to accept the bid from Meinershagen Roofing and Sheet Metal, and to authorize the superintendent to execute the necessary documents on behalf of the district, was approved with a 7-0 vote.