Cloud County Community College Board of Trustees Approve Bid for Children's Center Renovation Project
The Cloud County Community College Board of Trustees approved a bid from Cary J. Stupka Construction to renovate the college's Children's Center in response to the lack of affordable daycare in Concordia during their regular meeting on Tuesday, March 22nd.
Cloud County Community College's Children's Center first opened in November 1986 to support the needs of faculty, staff, student and community families to provide daycare services on campus. The current capacity at the Children's Center allows for up to 23 children. The renovation would allow the college to increase the capacity up to 40 children.
The Children's Center expansion project has received funding from the Dane G. Hansen Foundation ($100,000), Childcare Aware Grant ($30,000), and the Cloud County Community College Foundation ($400,000) in order to make this expansion happen.
Last month, the board approved a bid from Hood Heating, Air, Plumbing, Electric in the amount of $37,822.35 to install a new outside water line as part of the expansion project. This water line installation will allow the college to install a sprinkler system, fire alarm system, and additional restrooms needed for the project. At the same meeting, the board approved the purchase of a fire alarm system and control panel using the state of Kansas procurement contract with Tech Electronics of Kansas in the amount of $34,805. The purchase includes equipment, consultation, one time checkout of Fire Alarm Control Panel and all field devices, one wiring layout drawing per electrical contractor's conduit or cable routing, and typical device connection drawings.
Earlier this month, the board also accepted a bid from Bamford Fire Sprinkler Co., Inc. of Salina in the amount of $65,423.50 to install a new wet sprinkler system in preparation for the Children's Center renovation. City code and local ordinances require the facility to be upgraded to the current regulations after consultation with the local fire marshal. This sprinkler system will allow the college to meet current facility codes and regulations that will be affected by the renovation project.
Sealed bids for the Children's Center renovation work were opened on March 21st. Cary J. Stupka Construction submitted the only bid of $379,500, which was accepted. Additionally, the board approved a 10% contingency for the project. The completion date for the work is scheduled for August 4, 2022.
Child care is becoming increasingly hard to come by in Cloud County. Many facilities have waiting lists and it is impacting families and the local economy. Finding affordable, reliable, high-quality child care can be essential for working parents. Cloud County Community College President Amber Knoettgen said the renovation project is being done to help alleviate child care needs in our area.
The Children's Center at Cloud County Community College is licensed and approved by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to fully meet this growing need in the community.
On Tuesday, the board also voted to approve a lease agreement with 4 Kids Properties, LLC in the amount of $24,000 to lease space at 1556 North Road for the college wrestling practice facility. The college had been leasing space at the USD 333 Service Center at 1001 E. 7th Street in Concordia, but USD 333 Concordia has announced their intention to return that facility into the Concordia Middle School, with plans to relocate the district's 5th and 6th Grade students to the building beginning in August 2022. The college's current agreement with the school district expires May 30th.
The new wrestling practice facility will encompass two restrooms, office space for coaches, athletic training access, and wrestling practice space for the Cloud County Wrestling team. The monthly rental rate is $1,000 per month and the terms of the agreement are set from April 1, 2022 through June 30, 2024, with an option to renew in year three.
In personnel matters, the board voted to renew the contracts of Devin Kastrup as Head Men's Basketball Coach, Kyle Pugh as Assistant Men's Basketball Coach, and Josiah White as Assistant Women's Basketball Coach for the 2022-2023 season.
The board also approved the hire of Tena Myer of Belleville as a Nursing Instructor on the Concordia campus, effective August 15th, and approved the hire of Sandra Bergman of Salt Lake City, Utah as a Nursing Instructor on the Geary County campus, effective August 15th.
During the meeting, members of the Board of Trustees and College Administrators participated in a Nursing Simulation Tour. Last year, the college received a 2022 Kansas Nursing Initiative grant for $23,247 towards the purchase of the new high fidelity birthing simulator and newborn. The Gaumard Noelle 574 and Newborn Tory high fidelity birthing stimulator trains nursing students in caring for women as they go through the stages of labor. It can simulate a wide range of birthing complications, as well as normal birthing scenarios.
The Nursing Department at Cloud County Community College prepares students to earn an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing (AAS) degree. At the completion of the program students are eligible to take the NCLEX-RN to practice as Registered Nurses. Nearly 1,200 nurses are graduates of this program with a large majority of them practicing in North Central Kansas and South Central Nebraska. Cloud County Community College has prepared students to earn an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing (AAS) since 1978, with recent expansion to offer two degree completion options. Students may also prepare for a baccalaureate nursing program by earning an Associate of Science (AS) at Cloud County.
The board also held a 10-minute Executive Session for Attorney/Client Privilege with President Knoettgen, Vice President for Academic Affairs Kim Zant, Vice President for Administrative Services Caesar Wood, Human Resources Director Chris Wilson and College Attorney Justin Ferrell.