Neoga School Board to Consider Track Renovation Work

A long-discussed project to upgrade the Neoga school district's track could get underway this fall.

Neoga Superintendent Kevin Haarmann told the school board at this month's meeting that a bid opening on the work is scheduled the day of the Board's September 11 meeting and bids could be awarded at the meeting. 

In the past, effforts were being made to develop an all-weather track at Neoga inclluding much fundraising. When the district fell on hard fiscal times, though, the group of boosters behind the fundraising decided instead to contribute the money toward general needs of the district. 

Now that things are better financially, Haarmann said the issue of an upgraded track can be revisited. The project envisioned now is for drainage improvements and to put down a base that can be used by track athletes, with hopes of laying an asphalt surface over the top of the base when funds permit. A shot area and a discus area would also be a part of this fall's project. 

Meanwhile, Neoga is looking at the next phase of an overall renovation of district buildings. Neoga voters passed a referendum in 2022 that generated about $3.5 million. The first phase of the renovation included replacement of the roof of the elementary building as well as painting and waterproofing, along with new signage for the building, which formerly was a junior high building.

At the junior/senior high school building, which now is about 40 years old, three science labs have been renovated, along with the library and two student restrooms. Also, half of the corridors were retiled including asbestos abatement work. Haarmann said the next phase of work in that building will be pursued in the summer of 2024. That work will include the remaining corridor retiling and work on any other common areas. That will leave work on classrooms in another two or three years, basically painting and general maintenance. Remaining referendum funds and any ESSER and COVID funds can pay for the work planned next summer.

The Neoga board took action on some personnel matters at this month's meeting.

A contract was approved with Amy Clark for speech services to cover a maternity leave, resignations were accepted from Brandy Thompson as a paraprofessional and from Travis Haslett as a musical technical director, and Magin Judd was hired as a musical technical director. 

The Neoga board also approved a new threat assessment plan for the district and okayed a tentative budget for the district for the coming fiscal year with adoption of the budget expected in September.