WATERLOO -- The Board of Education Monday approved a $1.96 million contract to reconstruct Central Middle School's parking lot.

Peterson Contractors Inc. of Reinbeck, the lowest of three bidders, was awarded the project. The work, to be completed over the summer, will be paid for with physical plant and equipment levy funds.

The parking lot will be resurfaced for the first time since the school opened in 1972. A grassy area in one portion of the lot will be removed to provide more spaces. Curbs, drains and gutters also need to be rebuilt, and the lot's entrance off Katoski Drive will be moved to the north to create a better turning radius for buses. In addition, lighting will be upgraded to deal with wiring problems and to install more energy-efficient equipment.

In other business, the board received and filed the superintendent's recommendation to terminate five teacher contracts effective at the end of the school year. The cuts are due to budget constraints. The teachers, whose names were not made public, have rights to any position for which they are qualified within a two-year period. Officials expect some to return by the new school year due to normal attrition over the summer.

Both the terminations and the Central contract were approved on the consent agenda with no discussion.

Contact Andrew Wind at (319) 291-1507 or andrew.wind@wcfcourier.com.