The Southwestern Consolidated Schools Board approved spending $423,900 for building improvements in the months ahead.

Southwestern superintendent Curt Chase asked the board Wednesday night at its monthly meeting to approve $410,400 for Quality Roofing Specialists to replace the majority of the roof on the high school building and the elementary school building.

Chase can now schedule the work with the roofing company to start as soon as possible.

Additionally, Chase asked the board to approve $13,500 for Huber Painting to paint all the white areas in the gymnasium (photo).

“The murals will all stay,” confirmed Chase Friday morning.

The goal is to put a fresh coat of white paint in the gymnasium to make it “pop."

In other board business, the board also approved the Jr./Sr. High School and Elementary School improvement plans.

“We are sticking with the same plan as we had,” explained Chase. “As we collect the data on any learning loss, we are taking a hard look at all our school programs through the year.”

The school system will monitor testing data to compare from pre-pandemic times in early 2020 to today.

As the delta variant of COVID-19 spurs more cases, Chase says the school system is monitoring the situation and awaiting any mandates handed down by the state with regard to wearing masks on campus.

“Right now they are leaving it to local schools and we appreciate that,” said Chase. “We are sticking with our plan and always monitoring the situation.”