By ALICIA LEONARD
The Walton County School Board (WCSB) met for the regularly scheduled second meeting of the month in the media room of South Walton High School the evening of Oct. 18, 2016 at 5 p.m.
With no guests to announce, the board quickly approved the agenda before them and the past minutes of six sets of meetings, before calling for public comments.
With no member of the public coming forward, the board moved on to approve the consent agenda items unanimously.
Under the action agenda portion of the meeting the board approved contracts and agreements for items including a contract with litigation firm Rumberger, Kirk & Caldwell for labor law consultation and bargaining, and a managed print service agreement with Berney Office Solutions.
They then went on to approve the executive financial summaries for the month to date and personnel recommendations, along with the composition of the 2016-2017 District Advisory Council as well as a Title X, part C, project application to help with education of homeless children and youth.
The board then approved an update and changes to the Walton County District Digital Classroom plan. The update was needed to ensure that there were computers for every student in a class to take state mandated testing simultaneously.
Under facilities and construction, the board watched a presentation on the different construction methods and materials being considered for the new South Walton Elementary School. Two materials were discussed: Insulating Concrete Forms (ICF) vs Concrete Masonry Unit (CMU). Cost were comparable after insulation but ICF was touted to be a quicker method of construction since brick masons are said to be in short supply, and a team of three can erect an ICF wall while a masonry contractor can be working inside the school on a separate project, getting the district towards their tight deadline faster.
A request for approval of another part of Phase II of the Walton High School Athletic Complex was discussed. The long running project ran into some questions from board member Mark Davis about price and time issues.
This was for site work before the final phase is started. A Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) and final design along with some alternate choices will be up for board approval at the Nov. 15 board meeting.
Davis moved for a modification of the GMP contract with LLT Building Corporation for a half-a-percent of the contract price in liquidated damages to be imposed on the contractor, beginning on the agreed date of substantial completion. In the end the liquidated damages would work out to $500 per day or $2,500 per week for failure to complete the project by the agreed completion date. The board approved the motion and modification 5-0. The modified contract will come back before the board for final approval at the regular Nov. 1, 2016 board meeting.
The board then moved to approve four student expulsions over weapons and illegal drugs before adjourning.
The next meeting of the WCSB is scheduled for Nov. 1 beginning with a workshop at 3 p.m.
To see more about the district go to www.walton.k12.fl.us.