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KEARNEY - The Kearney Public Schools Board of Education will vote whether to purchase land for the construction of a new school.

During Monday's meeting, the school board will consider purchasing land for the construction of a three-unit school in southwest Kearney.

According to Jim Moranville, director of finance, the land is located west of Yanney Heritage Park and south of 11th Street.

Kelly Rapp and Laureen Striker-Rapp own the land.

Voters approved a $45 million school bond Sept. 15. The 20-year bond will pay for the purchase of land, the construction of two new elementary schools, renovations at existing elementary schools, including an addition to Meadowlark Elementary School, and technology upgrades at all schools.

One new three-unit school will be built in south Kearney in the Kenwood Elementary School area, and a two-unit school will be built in north Kearney. Another unit would also be added at Meadowlark.

A unit refers to the number of classrooms in each grade. A three-unit school has three kindergarten classrooms, three first-grade classrooms, and so on.

The district will gain four units for each grade because the current Kenwood building wouldn't be used for classes. The building will be used for administrative offices and district programs.

The board will also vote whether to enter into contract negotiations with an owner's representative.

The owner's representative will provide assistance and consultation services to the district on cost estimates of all phases of construction, overall budget and fiscal oversight, scheduling, and value analysis and consultation on alternative building systems and methods, recommendations on the packaging of the projects and the type of delivery for each construction project, recruitment of general managers and contractors, and contract supervision of the work by the general contractor.

The Owner's Representative Selection Committee met Friday to interview two candidates.

Board President Tim Higgins; Board Member Jim George; Director of Buildings and Grounds Art Hansen; Wilkins, Hinrichs, Stober Architect Jeff Hinrichs; Earl Rademacher; Superintendent Brian Maher; and Moranville are on the committee.

Moranville said the committee will present their findings at Monday's meeting.

Also during Monday's meeting:

- Lance Fuller, District Security Committee chairman, will report on progress being made on the district's security practices.

- Maher will report on progress being made by the Facilities Planning Committee and the Facilities Visioning Committee in preparation for construction projects.

- Gary Needham, technology director, will report on planning for the technology upgrades in the district using bond issue funds.

The school board meets at 7 p.m. in the Cope Presentation Room at Sunrise Middle School at 4611 Ave. N.

The board agenda is available by going to www.kearneypublicschools.org and clicking on BoardDocs.

e-mail to:

sara.giboney@kearneyhub.com

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