Morgan County Board of Education approved an $18.5 million bid from Baggette Construction Inc. of Decatur to build the new Priceville High School

Approval was granted on a recommendation from GBW Architects and Volkert Inc., construction manager, at a regular meeting Thursday night.

Baggette’s original base bid was $19,740,000, or about $1.3 million above budget.

“Working closely with the bidder, we investigated every line item in the bid package and were able to reduce the bid amount and bring it in line with the budget,” said Kevin Gunnison, project manager. “At the same time, we were able to retain the square footage of the original plan and maintain the integrity of the construction program.”

“A lot of blood, sweat and tears went into the process of meeting budget,” added Superintendent Bill Hopkins Jr. “I think we did a good job of making good use of taxpayer money. The important thing is we are going to be able to build the school for less than what was budgeted.”

The biggest cuts made were in contingency ($920,800 to $200,000), furnishings ($620,000 to $445,000) and furnishings ($875,000 to $703,106).

The board acted on other matters as follows:

• Approved a $29,700 bid from Dixie Store Fixtures to replace a dishwasher at DHS cafeteria.

• Approved a $95,974.02 bid from Dykes Restaurant Supply to replace two serving lines at the DHS cafeteria

• Approved a $280,641.18 bid from Snap-on Industrial to purchase automotive diagnostic and multi-meter certification training tools for BHS

•Approved $256,517.53 bid from A Tech training for automotive technology training equipment with 21st Century Grant funds for automotive technology equipment for BHS

• Approved $23,655 bid from Wm. J. Redmond and Sons for CNC routing equipment, with funding provided by the Rural Morgan County Industrial Development Board

•Approved board policy changes pertaining to employee leave, professional leave, illness, personal leave, reporting off from work, leaves, absences, vacations, safe schools policy drugs and alcohol and dangerous weapons

Requests for out-of-state field trips were approved as follows:

• Allowed 40 WMHS students to visit the Georgia Aquarium April 25

• Allowed 55 third-fifth grade West Morgan Elementary and Middle students to visit the Chattanooga Aquarium April 18

• Allowed 75 eighth-12th grade BHS students to travel to Atlanta, Ga., April 18-19 to see “The Lion King” and visit other tourist attractions

• Allowed 30 BHS robotics team members to attend the FIRST Robotics World Championship in St. Louis, Mo., April 23-26

• Allowed third-eighth grade TAG students from Falkville Elementary, Falkville High and Sparkman to to visit the Tennessee Aquarium and Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum

• Allowed four senior PHS basketball players to attend a Memphis Grizzlies basketball game April 4

• Allowed 14 WMHS yearbook staff members to visit the Gaylord Opryland Resort Atriums and other attractions in Nashville, Tenn., April 14.

On the recommendation of the superintendent, the board approved the following personnel items as follows:

• Accepted the retirement from Debbie Bagwell, computer technician at the central office, effective March 31

• Approved a revised leave of absence for Robert Graham, bus driver at BHS.

• Approved an employee supplemental contract with Jacob Wray as PHS assistant baseball coac

• Approved supplemental contract with Summer Boyd as PHS assistant softball coach. She is a non-staff coach.

• Approved three days unpaid leave for Charity Goodwin, secretary/bookkeeper at Danville-Neel .

• Accepted the resignation of Waymon Spain as WMHS lead bus driver

• Approved an supplemental contract with Emily Rae Evans as DHS assistant girls soccer coach. She is a non-staff coach.

• Accepted the retirement of James Wray, central office maintenance department worker, effective April 1

• Approved supplemental contract with Jeff Bair as WMHS lead bus driver.

• Approved contracts for services with Eva Dobbs, Angela Curtis, Deborah Thomason, Kim Crow and Sebra Brinkley to provide after-school and/or summer tutoring services at Cotaco

• Approved contract for services with Amanda Weatherby to provide after-school and/or summer tutoring services at Danville-Neel

• Approved the employment of Katie Cumbaa as a K-6 teacher at Lacey’s Spring.

• Approved contracts for services wit Mary Mann, Robin Davidson, Cheryl Hall and Carrie Holloway to provide instructional parent math services at Lacey’s Spring.

• Approved contract for services with Becky Houlk to provide after-school transportation services for EL students at West Morgan Schools.

• Accepted retirement of Rex Stewart, custodian at WMHS, effective June 1.

• Accepted retirement of Sherryn M. Davis as office aide/secretary at Danville-Neel, effective June 1.