Global uncertainty spurred by the Trump Administration’s trade policy has made its way to area school boards, with one area district recently having to accept a higher bid.

At last week’s Sedalia School District 200 Board of Education meeting, board members learned that the lowest of seven bids for the district’s copy paper needs for the next year had been withdrawn. Supt. Dr Todd Fraley says that while many of the tariffs have been delayed, he cites the continued threat of their use as the reason for the bid’s withdrawal.

The low bid had been submitted by Contract Paper Group for $47,275.20, but was withdrawn April 10. The board agreed to the next lowest bid from their current provider, Veritiv Operating for an additional $470.

Also last week, the district rejected three bids submitted for concrete work at Smith-Cotton High School, after a discrepancy was noted.

The board did accept bids for HVAC filters and custodial supplies. IBT of Sedalia will supply the district’s filters for $14,736.40, beating out three other bids, while eight different companies won part of the district’s custodial supply bids for the next school year, totaling $105,191.10. Five items were designated as custodial preference.