By PHYLLIS ZORN

Staff writer

Marion-Florence school board members took a preliminary look at needed repairs during their Monday meeting.

Craig Singer, from DCS Services in Wichita, and Sean Miller, from Integrated Consulting Engineers in Wichita, talked to board members about heating and air conditioning needs.

Miller said the antiquated boiler system at the Hill and high school buildings “is on its last legs.”

Cooling in the buildings is provided by window air conditioning units that can be replaced by a single heat pump system.

Singer said the heat pump system they propose would have individual temperature controls for each room, would not disturb historical elements of the building, and is as efficient as a geothermal system.

The Hill building looks to be most in need of work, with the high school building following just behind, he said.

Superintendent Aaron Homburg said he doesn’t believe a bond issue would have to be passed for the district to finance the work.

“I think we’ve squeezed all the good we can out of that boiler right now,” Homburg said.

Homburg said he would gather financial information and bring it back to the next meeting.

The floor in the elementary school gymnasium will cost about $30,000 to resurface, Homburg told board members.

Members questioned whether steps to stop water from infiltrating the floor should be taken before doing resurfacing work.

Members voted unanimously to hire a resurfacing company to get on their schedule, but to consult an engineer about preventing water from entering the gym.

Board members also bid farewell to Tim Young, who is moving his family to be closer to his work in El Dorado.

A replacement board member for his position will need to be found.

Young’s district lies north of U.S. 256 — Main St. in Marion — and portions of Centre, Clark, and Gale Townships.

In other business, board members hired Taylor Minihan as counselor, Judy Noller as math and robotics teacher, and Kyle Gfeller as social studies teacher at the high school for the 2018-2019 school year.