The Minneota Elementary School will be the subject of renovation this spring and summer.

School sets renovation schedule

While updating the upcoming elementary and locker room renovation project, Superintendent Dan Deitte said, “We’ve been working hard on the project. We found out we will have to separate the projects from one summer to the other.”

Tuesday night the school board got an update on project that will begin this spring.

The project has a new manager. Gene Salmi of CTS Group will now be the project manager. He replaces Joe Henn, who took another position and Salmi was introduced to the board.

“We opened our bids on Dec. 21 and found we needed to separate the work into two summers, which really isn’t a bad deal,” said the superintendent. The board rejected the mechanical bids, and continued to table the electrical, temperature control and testing and balancing bids.

“We will be rebidding the general trades,” said Supt. Deitte. This package will include the elementary school renovation, courtyards and FACS classroom.

This will be completed in the summer of 2018. The gymnasium renovation will also be completed in the summer of 2018. The high school renovation will also be done this summer but the locker room renovation will be completed in the summer of 2019.

“We are recommending we do the abatement on the asbestos in only the spots where we are doing the project this summer.”

“Next year all the abatement and asbestos will be done in one swoop,” said Board Chairman Dawn Van Keulen.

“We are moving ahead so we get all the projects done by the summer of 2019,” said the superintendent. Work will begin in the new gym and FACS courtyard area by April 23.

All construction will begin on May 21.

Preparing just in case

The school board each year gives the superintendent the authority to make any recommendations in reductions in program and positions that may be needed for the 2018-2019 school year.

While nothing is on the table at this time, they also approved a resolution that would discontinuing and reduce education programs and positions.

One of the programs that will be looked at will be Spanish. Foreign language has changed and kids are learning they no longer need two years of Spanish preparatory to high school.

“Currently there are 39 kids taking Spanish I and 19 kids taking Spanish II. We hope to keep Spanish but that’s not the trend in the state,” said Supt. Deitte.

As a result, Spanish teacher Miranda Gravley was told she may be put on unrequested Leave of Absence.

“This is nothing to do with performance. It has everything to do with numbers,” said Principal Jeremy Frie.

When registration for Spanish occurs later this year, “Then and only then, will the board know if they have enough numbers to bring Gravely back full time as a Spanish Teacher,” said Supt. Deitte.

IN OTHER action the board: •Was told about activities in the sports department by Activities Director Matt Myrvik.

Greg Gile was re-hired as the head golf coach with LeaAnne Bot as co-assistant coach; Walker Hennen as co-assistant golf coach and Nicole Evers as co-assistant golf coach for the 2018 season.

“There will be some changes in football next year. Redistricting is likely to take place along with other changes,” said Myrvik.

He indicated that the state is also discussing, “re-conditioning equipment more often. Football is on the agenda for reconditioning,” said Myrvik.

Helmets and other equipment will need to be re-conditioned. “We’re in pretty good shape for helmets,” Myrvik said.

Also, J. D. Pesch was hired as the assistant baseball coach for the 2018 season.

•Noted there will be a “revised budget” sometime between now and March, said Supt. Dan Deitte.

•Noted Elementary Principal Jennifer Mahan-Deitte indicated she will be introducing the idea of having a, “Therapy Dog,” in the Minneota Schools.

“We visited Marshall because they have one,” she said. She’s hopeful the Therapy Dog program can begin next year.

•Approved an agreement with teacher Darren Clausen for the school to pay 60 percent of the tuition cost and 100 percent of the textbook cost for Clausen to be enrolled in a master’s degree in chemistry.

Clausen agreed to stay with the school district for five years after he finishes his education. He also agreed to teach college course chemistry at Minneota High School.

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