The Kennett School Board at its Oct. 9 meeting approved a project that will expand the district office by what appeared on the blueprint as new eight offices and an open activity area. The cost was estimated to be $1.5 million.

The district office is a small building on the hillside just east of the high school. It houses the superintendent’s office and other administrative offices.

With motion approval, board member Ethan Cramer commented that several administrators are currently housed at other buildings in the district. It is better, he said, for them all to be together in the expanded district office.

District CFO Mark Tracy presented his preparation of two PlanCon applications: One each for the new building projects of Greenwood and New Garden elementary schools. PlanCon is a state education funding program that gives supplementary funds to districts with large building projects.

Currently, the program is not in place and the state is not providing funds, but Tracy said earlier that the applications would be prepared regardless.

The elementary school building projects together are estimated to cost approximately $106 million.

The board also approved three contracts for educational services. Meza Guadalupe will receive $75 an hour for translation services. Kristin Gallagher will receive $50 an hour for dental hygienist services.

Also, Step-By-Step Learning contracted with Kennett for teacher- and principal-training in dealing with remedial services in phonetics, phonics and spelling for students. The first year was contracted at $498,000 and will be paid for by federal funding.  

The board also approved a contract for geotechnical studies of the Greenwood Elementary School project. Both schools are designed to have onsite, sanitary disposal.

The administration also received a request for a student organization to be named the Muslim Students Association. The main purpose of the club is to provide a supportive, inclusive community for Muslims and any students who are interested in learning about Islam. The Student Organization Constitution has been successfully completed and signed off by the student officers, club advisor, and high school administration, according to the application.

Cramer, head of the board  Legislative  Committee, announced that the politics of party control and some failed deal-making have created an impasse over state money going to private school tuition, and that issue has still not been resolved.