Caledonia Argus

School road issue unresolved

Posted: 5/7/02

By Shannon McKinney
Argus News Reporter

A second joint meeting will be held to discuss road access to the new middle school/ high school.

ISD #299 board members plan to meet with the Caledonia City Council on Monday, May 13, at 7:00 p.m. Ma Cal developers Fred and Gary Kruckow and John Esch will also be invited to the meeting.

A joint proposal was offered to Ma Cal seeking its participation in developing Esch Drive. In the proposal, the district, developers and the city would share in the costs for that development. The deadline for when Ma Cal could respond to the proposal has expired.

The purpose of next weekís meeting will be for board members to review the cost of having the district develop roads up to the boundary lines of Kruckow Avenue, Esch Drive and moving Gjere Avenue to the east for a more convenient connection north to Highway 76 in the future.

Kraus-Anderson site superintendent Ken Cote' asked for direction from the board on these options so that construction crew could begin the work. Developing these roads up to the boundaries will make future connection to potential streets easier.

Board Member Chuck Schulte asked, however, what if the district spends the extra money to reconfigure the roads and cooperation from the city or Ma Cal isnít received for completing the development.

Cote' will present those extra costs at the special meeting.

Board reviews cuts for 2003-2004 year

Administrators brought $350,000 in recommended cuts for the 2003-2004 school year. The recommendation is part of the plan to get out of SOD in the next three to five years.

In was recommended that eight sports programs be cut, four spring sports, two fall sports and two winter sports. The cuts will yield an $81,000 savings to the district.

Board Chair Cheryl Whitesitt clarified that these are only recommendations.

Board member Dave Klinski commented, ìSix months ago by a 3 to 1 vote, our bosses (the taxpayers) told us this is what we want you to do. Weíre just fulfilling the desires of the constituency. If they want to keep these things, thereís a referendum coming up.î

Superintendent Percy Lingen said that she, Secondary Principal Brian Doty and Elementary Principal Connie Hesse echo those sentiments. ìWeíre just doing what you want us to do,î she said.

Whitesitt pointed to the fact that $500,000 was cut for this year, and another $300,000 was cut for the 2002-2003 school year. ìWhen you trim $850,000 in two years weíre down to the bare bones,î she said.

District looking for someone to lead in moving

The board decided it would like to save money by packing the elementary and current high school themselves with the help of volunteers in the community.

The only challenge, however, is to find someone to lead the operation.

Board member Suzanne Roesler said the issue needs to be resolved soon because packing should begin by June 4.

It is estimated that it will take two weeks to pack and two weeks to move.

The schools need to be packed and moved out by June 28.

Having professional packers and movers come in could cost between $48,000 and $69,000, which was rejected by board members as being too costly.

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