Split vote authorizes SCC to hire architect for facility review, sketches

A last-minute vote change allowed the South Central Calhoun school board to accept a proposal from a Sioux City architecture firm, the first step toward a yet-to-be-defined building project.
Board member Ryan Hildreth twice made the motion to accept FEH Design’s proposal, which will cost just shy of $25,000 to complete a building assessment, meet with district stakeholders and host a two-day design workshop, at the end of which the district will have a rough sketch of whatever additions officials opt to build.
The first motion got a second, but the six board members present split on whether to proceed with the plan. Board member Roger McKinney tried to amend the motion to allow the district to pay for just the first two steps, holding off on the design workshop until later. That amendment failed, and the board tied, with McKinney, Alan Wedemeyer and Judy Hungate casting the no votes, and Hildreth, Ron Maulsby and Tom Steinborn voting to move ahead with FEH. Board member Brad Assman was absent.
McKinney said he felt like accepting FEH’s entire proposal was paying a large sum of money to have someone else make the decision about what projects to pursue. A facilities committee, comprised of coaches, a school board member, teachers and community members, met several times earlier this year to talk about what building needs exist within the district. At the group’s final visit to the school board, two months ago, committee members said they saw a variety of needs, from classroom and office space at the elementary school, as well as a need for gymnasium space at several buildings. 
Read more in the Aug. 24 edition.