WAPELLO, Iowa - An initial plan to conduct an intensive facility plan for the Wapello School District was cut back Thursday during a special school board work session.

The Board had reviewed a proposed plan during its Jan. 12 meeting, but members agreed it went beyond their original expectations.

At the work session, Board member Steve Dickey listed several areas of the proposed plan he felt could be omitted, explaining the Board had already corrected those problems or school staff could handle any updates. The list included technology, drainage systems, communication, water supply, asbestos and other areas.

“Do we want or need to go down that same road?” he said.

Another possible study area that he questioned was educational adequacy.

“Do we need outside people looking at the size of our classes?” he said.

Board member Julie Ohde suggested that might not be a bad idea.

“I’m not so sure that’s not a good idea for someone to look at. Someone could come up with using space that we haven’t thought of,” she said.

Investigating the condition of the school buildings, such as exterior and interior walls, doors, windows, roofs and similar features, received the Board’s support.

Superintendent John Weidner suggested the Board might want to look at security cameras as part of the study. He said some systems allow law enforcement and school officials to go online and view locations in a school from off-site computers.

Board members also agreed the school should seek more potential consultants for the work. The initial proposal had been submitted by Education Facility Planning and Management LLC of Bellevue, Neb. The initial price estimate for the work was $14,000.

“If we’re going to spend $14,000, I think we should put out some feelers,” said Board president Don Hardin.

Weidner said he would rewrite the project’s scope to reflect the changes and also develop a new list of potential contractors to contact. He will present the revised documents at the Board’s next meeting.

Contact Jim Rudisill at: 319-523-2213 or

jimrudisill@yahoo.com