With many construction issues looming, it’s not likely at this time

By REED WALLER

Staff Writer

Is the NRHEG School Board ready to consider the feasibility of a new gym for NRHEG?

Maybe, maybe not.

Discussion was intense at the close of Monday’s board meeting in Ellendale, as members (board chair Rick Schultz was absent) struggled to get their heads around a new project close on the heels of the renovation in New Richland – a job which is still not complete and has unsolved problems.

The Building and Grounds Committee has conferred with D.L.R. Group architects in the matter, and they were given a price of $15,000 for an initial design study, and about $38,000 for a proposal, half of which would be returnable.

“What would we get for that?” asked John Harrington. “A plan? Something we could look at?”

“We’d like to have a ballpark figure of what such a project would cost,” said Lori Routh.

Frustration with the existing commons (the district is still withholding payment pending satisfaction with the floor surfacing), but at the same time it calls attention to other problems at both sites that need work.

It also brings up what could be described as a reduced degree of trust in expensive design and construction firms to do a job right.

Right now the district is also negotiating for bids on the standing seam project at New Richland (the cause of much leakage and damage, a mismatch in the old building roofs that was not considered in the construction contract). A bid of $10,600 has been looked at, but Supt. Dennis Goodwin asked the board for approval to hold out for a better one. 

“I’m all for improving the facilities,” said acting chair Michele Moxon, “but I’m also for maintaining what we’ve got. This (the gym) is not a right-away problem.”

 “Before we launch into something new, it would be nice to do a walk-around and look at stuff we need to do now,” said Harrington.

For example, there are still single-pane windows in some of the classrooms in Ellendale, where water leakage, air quality and other problems remain uncorrected.

After the completion of the potential new gym discussion, Dr. Goodwin brought up another issue.

“We have issues in our hot water system. The holding tank in New Richland has a hole in it. Repairing the hole will cost $19,600, plus $5500 for a new heat bundle, and repairing damage to the core would be another $10,000. What is being planned is to cut out the entire bottom of the holding tank (installed in 1954) and replace it. We also had our water softener go out adding additional costs to repairing the hot water system in New Richland.  The entire effort will come to around $45,000.

 “This is obviously going to have an impact on our plan to put away $225,000 for the coming year,” said Goodwin ruefully, “but we have to do it.”

Discussion of a potential new gym was postponed.

Referendum converted to board authority

Dr. Goodwin recommended approval of a resolution to convert the district’s voter-approved referendum to a Board-approved referendum in the amount of approximately $30 per pupil unit. They also approved another Board-approved referendum in the amount of $270 per pupil unit.

This is all part of a State plan to have levy moneys put into a form that can increase State funds, thereby lowering property taxes.

The process will be a five-year plan beginning with the payable 2015 levy.

Student handbook goes digital

The new Elementary and Secondary school handbooks were approved for publication on the school’s website. 

“Does this mean the student handbook will no longer be printed on paper at all?” several members asked.

Secondary students will have hard copy of the Student Handbook included as part of their agenda book.

The next regular meeting of the board will be Monday, Aug. 18, 6:30 p.m. at the New Richland Media Center.