Board approves cancelling MoDOT cost‑share application, hires CPB for Highway 47 school entrance engineering

Board members heard that Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) initially proposed completing engineering and construction for the new school entrance on Highway 47 under a cost‑share arrangement but indicated the full project schedule would not finish until 2029. District staff said the district needs the entrance ready for an earlier opening in August 2027.

To accelerate the timeline, staff recommended privately hiring an engineer to complete the design faster and then reapplying with MoDOT for a construction-only cost share. The district reported an original combined cost estimate of about $3,000,000 (approximately $1.5 million each), and said the revised plan estimates construction at roughly $2,000,000 with MoDOT paying about $1 million and the district about $1 million; district staff noted the change would require roughly an additional $500,000 to shorten the timeline by two years.

Frank Kishwartz moved to cancel the existing MoDOT cost‑share application and reapply for construction-only cost share at MoDOT’s July deadline; the motion passed on voice vote. The board also approved a contract with CPB, the firm that completed traffic studies for the project, for an estimated $255,000 to perform the engineering work needed under the revised schedule; the CPB contract passed on voice vote.

Board materials show the district will require MoDOT sign‑off on privately produced engineering plans and that MoDOT must approve any design before construction proceeds. No additional ordinances or statutes were cited during the discussion.