(KMZA)--The Nemaha Central USD 115 Board of Education this week heard a proposal for upgrades to the high school welding shop.

Welding instructor Paul Wertenberger proposed the construction of ten welding booths and the installation of new exhaust fans to improve ventilation.

Wertenberger said he had received a bid for new booths from two outside companies at about 18-hundred dollars per booth.  He said the Welding II students could make the booths, with material costing about $350 each.

Wertenberger also priced new exhaust fans from Eisenbarth Plumbing who submitted an estimate of more than 59-hundred dollars.

In addition, he requested two new welding supply cabinets and a carpentry tool cabinet totaling 49-hundred dollars.

The primary discussion was that of adequate ventilation.  The Board discussed a trunk line with drops for each booth.  The directed Wertenberger to obtain additional information.

The Board approved the purchase of materials so that the Welding II students could begin fabricating the individual welding booths.       

In other business, the Board approved the addition of a Current Events class to the middle school schedule for the second semester.  The class will part of the current study skills class two or three times per week.

Also Superintendent Darrel Kohlman informed the Board he’s in the process of interviewing six candidates for the new Vo-Ag teacher position and will bring a recommendation to the Board at their January 9th meeting.