NV board awards portion of secured entrances project

In a short meeting last Wednesday, Dec. 18, the Nodaway Valley Board of Education held a public hearing on a secured entrances project for all three of the district’s buildings. No public comment was made.

The estimated scope of the project, which will further restrict visitors from portions of the school district’s buildings, totals $670,619, Superintendent Paul Croghan said.

The board awarded the glass and doors part and security part of the projects to Red Oak Glass and Walsh Door and Security, respectively, in the amount of $520,324.

In order to follow Iowa law, the schedule for bidding portions of this project was adjusted. Croghan said he hopes the bidding process can be completed by early February.

The safety grant, provided to all schools in Iowa in an amount not to exceed $50,000 per building, will cover that amount of the project for Nodaway Valley, for a sum of $150,000.

“Administratively, we made the decision that the safest way to keep our buildings safe is to not let anybody in during the school day," Croghan said. “There are other things allowed through the grant, but we chose to take this one because we felt it was the best one for the safety of our students and staff. It will be a good thing to get done. There are a lot of things to do, but safety first.”

The board’s regular meeting in January will be 5 p.m. Jan. 15.