Bluffton school board initiated the bid process for an 84-passenger transit school bus during its Feb. 8 board meeting. The board will open bids for the bus at 9 a.m., Wednesday, March 8, in the superintendent’s office.

The board also accepted a contract totally $199,500 for materials and installation of bleachers in the high school gym. The contract is with Hussey Seating Co., and Farnham Equipment Co.

The current bleachers are the original bleachers and are nearly 30 years old. The project could begin as soon as April and should be completed later in the spring.

In other action the board approved supplemental contracts for five activities for this school year and eight contracts for 2017-18. Next year’s contracts involved varsity athletic coaches. Lists of those contracts are in the attachment.

Gordon Shivley, guidance counselor, announced his retirement effective June 13. Bonnie Hammond and Liane Thompson issued March-April contracts as Ohio Achievement Assessment tutors.

The board also approved setting a special meeting at 7 p.m., Monday, April 17, to act upon the retirement and re-employment of Timothy Closson, elementary principal.