Vignettes
This column-writing business brings me in contact with interesting people people who do interesting things in interesting places in interesting ways even during these challenging times.
One of the most interesting of those interesting people is the second-grade artist Isabella Nielson. Isabella’s drawing appeared as the weather art drawing in the Feb. 19 edition of The News.
Today’s column is, in part, an appreciation of Isabella’s art.
But the fact is that about anything Isabella did or said day to day would be of interest to me. You see, there is a substantial age difference between her and me.
Feb 15, 2021
∫ The Alpena Public Schools Board of Education’s Property Committee recommends the board award an asbestos abatement contract to Total Environmental for the district’s asbestos abatement projects in the amount of $198,200.
The district will be doing asbestos abatement at Hinks, Besser, Ella White, Sanborn, and Wilson elementaries, the former Sunset Elementary School, and Central Office as part of the $33.9 million property tax voters approved in March. The majority of the asbestos abatement will be completed in the boiler rooms of the schools.
Total Environment is the lowest bidder for the project and is recommended over three other contractors who submitted bids for the project.
ALPENA, Mich. – Plans for the renovation of a few Alpena Public Schools is getting that much closer to a green light. The committee overseeing the district’s bond–funded renovations has reviewed the design budget for Ella White Elementary School.
According to Alpena Schools administrators, they are hoping to get the ball rolling on all major projects very soon.
“For Ella White we’ve got just a couple more steps, because that is a much larger project than each of the other projects,” said Alpena Schools Superintendent David Rabbideau. “So, we have some finalizations of internal plans, drawings, and blueprints, that sort of thing.”
Recent actions by school boards in Northeast Michigan.
∫ The Alpena Public Schools Board of Education’s Property Committee on Monday learned the committee overseeing the district’s bond-funded renovations had reviewed the design budget for changes at Ella White Elementary School.
Trustee Steven Donajkowski, who serves on both committees, said the district is on track with its plans and the amount allotted for Ella White. He said bids for Wilson, Besser and Lincoln elementaries are expected in January and the committee will review those on Jan. 12.
Associate Superintendent for Business and Operations Mary Lyon recently shared with the full Board of Education that its insurance company paid the district $37,873 for 146 Chromebook laptops and 719 carrying bags damaged by mold when they were stored last summer at Thunder Bay Junior High School. She said the money would be put in the district’s long-range technology fund for future Chromebook purchases.