The Durant High School project is a go, according to school board members.

During a meeting Monday night, the school board approved a contract with Steele & Freeman, Inc., in the amount of $35 million for construction of the new Durant High School.

“Can we just stand and clap right now?” Superintendent Dr. Jason Simeroth said when presenting the item to the board.

To mark the occasion, representatives from construction manager Steele & Freeman, Inc., and architect Claycomb & Associates and former school board member Tom Lackey attended the meeting. After the board members approved the contract, everyone in attendance applauded.

“We’re ready to start this high school,” school board president Tammy Cross said.

The new high school, which will be located on Gerlach Drive, is being funded by a sales tax increase of five-eighths of one percent for the next 25 years. The new tax went into effect July 1, 2008.

Assistant Superintendent Larry Scott said bonds for the new high school went out Wednesday, Oct. 21.

After the school bonds were posted, they were completely sold less than two hours later, Simeroth said. That process usually takes three to four days.

Mike Freeman, president of Steele & Freeman, Inc., said he is excited that the project can officially move forward.

“It’s been a long time coming. We’ve been working on it since March,” Freeman said.

Construction should take 20 months and the new school should be ready by fall 2011. Anywhere from 200 to 300 workers are there per day at times, he said.

The contract amount approved by the school board was for a guaranteed maximum price of $35 million, but he hopes the company can build the school at a cheaper cost.

Under other business, the school board awarded a bid for two 20-passenger lift busses to Midwest Bus Sales, based out of El Reno, in the amount of $53,200 per unit.

Assistant Superintendent Duane Merideth said the busses are being purchased with federal stimulus funds.

The board also approved a resolution calling for the 2010 school election. Dan England currently fills the board member position that is up for election.

The election will be held Feb. 9, 2010. Individuals wishing to apply for the school board position can go to the Bryan County Election Board, located on 217 N. 16th Ave., Durant, from Dec. 7-9.

School board clerk Sharon Wadley discussed the proposed operating budget for Fiscal Year 2010.

She said the proposed budget for the upcoming year — approximately $28.37 million — is a little higher than last year, due in large part to federal stimulus funds.

Approximately $1.309 million of stimulus funds are included in the budget, and these funds have to be used for specific items, Wadley said.

However, the school board may not receive the full amount they are requesting. State revenue cuts could reduce the operating budget amount, she said.

State aid and revenue could be cut by 5 percent or more, which means the school could lose approximately $700,000 quickly if the state does not approve certain legislative measures, Wadley said.

The budget does not include the increased cost of health care for school employees. However, the school will continue to provide 100 percent coverage, Simeroth said.

The school board approved the following resignations: child nutrition employees Barbara Childers and Crystal Teaster and teacher assistants Chelsie Turner, Northwest Heights, and Stacy White, Washington Irving.

The following support staff were hired: special education teacher assistants Brandi Green, Durant High School, Keri Martindale, Durant Middle School, and Laura Mackey, NWH, and WI pre-kindergarten teacher assistant Amity Smith.