Portables, stimulus funds discussed

How to spend anticipated federal stimulus funds and getting portable classrooms in place in time for the start of school this fall topped kindergarten-related discussion at Monday night’s School Board meeting.

The district is expected to receive roughly $900,000 in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 – also known as stimulus – funding, Superintendent Randy Bell told the board, adding that he hopes to learn in the next couple of weeks what federal stipulations the district must follow in spending the funds.

So far, officials are eyeing the district’s summer program and the possibility of helping to pay for kindergarten as potential uses of stimulus money, Bell said.

Meanwhile, the board voted unanimously to waive the usual bidding process to expedite the acquisition of five portable classrooms – two doubles and one single – that need to be delivered, set up and ready to go by the first day of school on Sept. 1.

District business administrator Norm Sanborn said the district is considering proposals from two portable distributors, one in Maine and one in Lakeville, Mass. “They’re both very well-regarded companies for portables,” he told the board.

Sanborn said either company should be able to have the portables in place by late July or early August, giving the district time to do site work and furnish the portables by the start of school.