The Hennessey school board accepted a $12,640 interest bid at .395% from First Banker’s Banc Securities on the sale of $1.6 million in taxable building bonds and approved the April bond issuance in a special meeting at noon last Wednesday.

Other bidders were BOK Financial Securities (.4415%) $14,128.00; UMB Bank with Community State Bank (.477%) $15,264.00; NBC Bank with Baker Group (.499%) $15,968.00 and Country Club Bank (.5395%) $17,264.00.

Andy Davis with Stephen L. Smith Corp. presented the bids to the board.

Smith Corp. was hired as the financial consultant with a minimum fee of $7,500 plus 1.75% of first $100,000 issued; plus $1.50% of second $100,000; plus 1.25% of third $100,000 and 1.00% of all over $300,000 issued.

Hennessey school patrons approved a 15-year $15.49 million bond issue by 61.49% April 11, 2017.

The question on the ballot stated the funds would be used “for the purpose of constructing, equipping, repairing and remodeling school buildings, acquiring school furniture, fixtures and equipment and acquiring and improving school site.”

Before the election went to voters, board members set aside $10.59 million for use on the Hennessey Event Center (aka The Dome) that was completed last fall.

Another $4.9 million would include roof repairs and replacements at the high school gym, middle and elementary schools and auditorium roofs.

Work on those roofs began in 2017 and was completed the next year by Universal, which won the bid at $1.96 million.

Closed Session

The board spent almost an hour in executive session to discuss “superintendent position for the 2021-22 school year.”

That item did not call for action.

Superintendent Interviews

All board members attended another special meeting at 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13.

The only agenda item was to hold an executive session to interview superintendent candidates to replace retiring Superintendent Dr. Mike Woods.

All board members were present for the interview session: President Dr. James Matthew Matousek; Vice President Joe Garrison; Clerk Cristopher Choate; Luke Lough, and Patrick Griffin.

Timberly Jech, business manager and recording secretary, and Woods were also present for the Feb. 13 meeting and Garrison was the only absent board member.