Caledonia Argus

Opening day at new school a success

Posted: 9/10/02

by Andrew Miller
Argus News Reporter

Opening day at the new $20 million middle/high school was a success, according to Principal Brian Doty, who addressed the ISD 299 school board on Tuesday, September 3.

ìItís a great place to be and it was a great opening day,î Doty said. ìThe general sense I have is that everybody is comparatively happy. When I was in the lounge, the faculty were smiling. With our lunch situation, we sit a larger number of kids than we sat before, comparatively comfortably.î

Doty attributed the opening day ease to the work of faculty who helped get the new building in order in the days before school started. ìThe reason weíre off the ground is a whole lot of effort by a lot of folks,î he said.

Superintendent Jim Tool added, ìA lot of faculty were here yesterday (Labor Day) trying to get things off on the right foot.î

Changes in the enrollment at the new school were a point of concern. The administration anticipated 632 students, and their numbers at the end of the first school day indicated that approximately 650 students are enrolled.

ìI think we have in the vicinity of 20 more kids than we anticipated,î Doty said. ìBut we havenít had the shake-out yet, with kids going off to Hokah, kids going off to Leadership,î which will undoubtedly diminish the number of students. However, Doty noted, ìthe number will be up from what we thought no matter what.î

The amount of available parking space in the school lot, said Doty, ìis worthy of a comment.î There are 301 spaces available and, of those 301, 52 remained unoccupied during the opening day of school. However, the spots that remained were a considerable distance from the school

ìThere was parking left, but youíd be walking,î he said. ìIím now pretty well aware we have parking issues.î

Board members Suzanne Roesler and Cheryl Whitesitt suggested that visitor parking should be added to the lot, and Roesler also noted the need for signs along the highway indicating the location of the new school. Board member Chuck Schulte concurred, citing an example of out-of-town visitors who couldnít find the school, noting that ìthereís simply a lot of people that donít know how to get to the school.î

Retrofit Update

Also at Tuesday nightís meeting, Kraus-Anderson project superintendent Ken Cote' gave a report of the progress of the retrofit construction at the former high school.

ìThings are going relatively well,î Cote' said. ìWeíre already into the reconstruction, and the finish drawings, for things like carpet and flooring, will arrive next week.î

It is estimated that the retrofit will be completed between the end of February and mid-March.

ìSometime in February it looks like theyíll be done, except for the mechanical stuff,î commented Superintendent Tool. Cote' then noted that Kraus-Anderson is taking all steps possible to get the mechanical units necessary for the retrofit expedited, confirming that construction should go no later than mid-March.

Cote' also mentioned that much of the outdoor athletics structures at the new high school are nearing completion as well. At the time of the meeting, the footings for the bleachers were being dug, and the shot-put and discus areas were scheduled to be finished by the end of the week. Seating for the ballfields were slated for installation between September 4 and 6, and rocking for the path to the track would begin the week of September 9.

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