Ellsworth Junior/Senior High School also will benefit from a construction project at Ellsworth Elementary School.

Superintendent Dale Brungardt told members of the Ellsworth-Kanopolis-Geneseo School Board Monday night that workers planned to remove the step in the hallway between the gymnasium and the Performing Arts Center and replace it with a ramp and rail.

Removing the step is a safety issue, he said, pointing to a situation during graduation ceremonies where a guest in a wheel chair didn’t see the step until it was almost too late.

Cost is expected to be $20,000.

“That’s nothing compared to what a lawsuit would be,” board member David Hand said.

Brungardt also updated the board on the work at the elementary school. He showed photos of the floor being laid in the old multi-purpose room and other work.

The problem, he said, is the outside concrete, which has been delayed by rain. One of the photos the superintendent showed was of what he called “Bear Cub Lake.”

Still, Brungardt said the project should be done in time for the start of classes in August.

Cost of the project, with change orders, is $1.37 million, he said. That’s less than the $1.45 million ceiling the board placed on the improvements.

In other action:

• The board changed leadership. Hand is the new president, replacing Liz Donley, who has had the job for the past two years. Cynthia Edgerle is vice president.

The board voted to continue on its traditional schedule after the state moved school board elections from the spring to the fall general election.

• Brungardt said the district’s valuation has increased $1.5 million, which will add $1,500 to each mill levied by USD 327.

“That’s good news for us. Hopefully, we’ll keep growing,” he said.

The superintendent said he plans to be in Salina this week to start the budget process for the new school year.

• Board members voted to continue tracking the school year with hours instead of days. The district has scheduled 1,173 hours, which allows for snow and in-service days. The state requirement is 1,116 hours, Brungardt said.