Caledonia Argus

Move to new school completed

Posted: 7/16/02

By Shannon McKinney
Argus News Reporter

Shelley Jilek and Community Education Director Nancy Runningen received a round of applause from board members Monday night, July 15, when they announced to the school board that the moving of the school was almost complete that evening. There was only one small move to be done the next morning.

Jilek and Runningen have spent the last several weeks coordinating the moving of items in the current high school to the new middle school/ high school with the help of volunteers who donated their time in moving class rooms, and also donated the use of their vehicles to facilitate in the move.

The board asked Jilek to assist in preparing some kind of recognition to the volunteers, who saved the district between $50-$70,000.

Auction date set for August 2

After the move, many items were left behind that will not be used at the new school.

Elementary Principal Connie Hesse thanked the board for allowing the elementary teachers to take items they could use for their classrooms before they were auctioned off. The rest of the items will be sold at an auction on Thursday, August 2, starting at about 4:30 p.m. Kevin McCormick will auction the items and estimated the auction to last about four hours and yield between $3,000 to $5,000.

Locks installed in new school

Kraus-Anderson Site Superintendent Ken Cote' announced that all of the doors to the new school will now be locked. Only the owners of the building will have the key.

Cote' updated the board saying the new school is very near completion.

The finishing process for the gym and auditorium floors will begin next week. The bleachers for the new gym will be installed shortly after that. Then, the floor will be painted and striped.

All floors will be washed and waxed this week.

Most all of the inspections of the school have been completed. The district can expect a temporary certificate of occupancy next week. The permanent certificate arrives after the balancing agent has completed his testing of of the air handling system in the school.

The punch list person has arrived and any deficiencies noted will be corrected by next week. Phone lines will be installed this week.

Seating for the auditorium will be installed this week.

Practice fields will not be ready by fall

ISD #299 Interim Superintendent James Tool informed the board that the practice fields at the new school for football and soccer will not be ready by this fall.

Cote' told the board that the hot dry weather has stunted the growth of the fields.

Tool said this raises the question of how to deal with transporting some 200 athletes to practice fields that are a few miles away.

The board decided to wait to receive input from Secondary Principal Brian Doty when he returns from his vacation.

Adult lunch reduced from $3 to $2.50

Acting on Toolís recommendation, the board unanimously agreed to lower the price of adult lunches from $3 to $2.50 in part to make it more affordable to students.

He explained that students have the option of buying a second lunch at the adult price, and said that lowering the adult price may give students more incentive to purchase a second lunch.

Tool reported that after conducting a study of area prices for lunches, it was discovered that Caledonia is on the high end for student lunches at the price of $1.75. They are also on the high end for adult lunches at $3.00.

Board chair Cheryl Whitesitt, and board member Dave Klinski said that they were not aware that students could even purchase a second lunch.

Tool said the cost of food for the district for each lunch is about $1.00.

Personnel matters

The board accepted the resignations of Mrs. Lisa Barum as speech pathology teacher at the end of the 2001-2002 school year.

Hesse noted that the position will be difficult to fill.

The board also accepted the resignation of Rocky Danielson as boys head soccer coach at the end of the 2001-2002 school year.

Contracts were offered to Matthew Wallin as a full time LD (learning disability) teacher in the amount of $28,000.

A contract was also offered to Lisa Buley as a full time secondary guidance counselor at MA/O in the amount of $35,847.20

Becky Newgaardís position of .6 as an kindergarten teacher has been upgraded to full time with the addition of .4 for the Title I position.

District to grant diplomas to WWII veterans

The board adopted a resolution to grant World War II veterans who were not able to complete their high school education because they fought for their country during WWII.

The board approved granting a diploma to Donald J. St. Mary for his dedicated service and sacrifice to his country and for a continuation of life-long learning.

Top of Page