During its Oct. 29 meeting, the Cuba R-2 District School Board heard updates on its current renovations and future projects from superintendent Dr. Scott Davidson and Bond Architect Project Manager, Tanner Smith, which were funded by the passed ‘Proposition Kids’ Bond.

Davidson, who has made Facebook posts highlighting the recent renovations, said that demolition had been completed on the old administrative building, new lights have been installed at the softball, football and baseball fields and that the dirt floor in the middle school maintenance office has been replaced by concrete, which will store extra furniture.

He added that a concrete slab was poured outside the maintenance office, which will “prevent excess water from flowing in that area and in the 10 gym and allow food service to get their carts in and out without getting rocks stuck in their wheels.”

Davidson then outlined future renovation plans, which will go out for bid in the next month or two, with the intention to be completed next summer.

“The bigger points we want to add starts with the security entrance to the high school. We’re also planning on adding HVAC in the middle school, a new addition to the bathroom in the middle school, other renovations to the restrooms in the middle school as well, and then in the cafeteria in the middle school,” Davidson said.

“We have the doorways that you walk into the cafeteria through, but those can close to help the HVAC regulate on both ends. We’ve thought through security protocols and uses with different doors, latches. So a lot of the work has been in the details with electrical, the plumbing, the hardware that we need,” continued Davidson. “We looked at color schemes for the schools. So the color on the walls here is going to be our base color, and then we’ll all patch it with black and gold throughout the district. So middle school and the high school will get the most attention to the common areas and the hallways and lobby areas. And then the elementary is in a good color shape right now, so we’ll leave it as is.”

Smith then added that they’re working on installing new windows in the middle school and have plans to upgrade the district’s bus barn, improve the drainage system in and around the middle school and add additional lighting between the elementary and middle school.

“There are a couple of single-pane windows being replaced at the middle school which are being replaced with double-pane windows.” Smith said.

“There’s work being done at the bus barn when the buses come in between shift changes,” Smith added.

“There’s only one restroom, and I’ve heard there’s always a line. So we’re borrowing some space from the break room to create a second bathroom. We’re also adding an additional overhead door to the bus barn. There’s three on one side, but only one of the bays is truly a drive-through. So we’re adding a second door on the backside so that a second bay can have a drive-through.”

“There’s some general civil and site improvements around the middle school. There’s some drainage issues where water can sometimes infiltrate the classroom. So we’re addressing that, and adding some additional lighting in between the middle school, elementary school and the maintenance building.”

Smith said that he hopes to have all of the potential renovations finalized and ready to be put out for bid in the next week. He added that he hopes that one large company will bid on the entire project, but if not, the package can be ‘broken down into different bids for multiple companies.’ 

Smith concluded by complimenting the district on being compatible to work with, before expressing his excitement for the new changes coming to the schools.

“The school district has been great to work with,” Smith said.

“It’s really exciting to get to just do stuff, even if it’s relatively small stuff, to spruce up the buildings. I’m particularly excited about all the paint in the middle school and high school, which will unify the hallways. And yeah, we’re in the home stretch here for the bid, and then I’ll be here a lot during construction. So, thank you again for your time.”