By JODY WYNNEMER

Staff Writer

With school starting in less than a week, there will be a significant change in the routine at the Ellendale Elementary School.

In the past, students arrriving by bus were dropped off and picked up on School Street, which is on the east side of the building.

Upon completion of a new parking lot on the south end of the property, school buses will load and unload near the gymnasium. The new lot, which is 117 feet wide by 200 foot deep, will enter and exit off of 8th Avenue (Steele Cty Rd 38.) The school district had to apply for variances for the entrances from Steele County, which granted approval. It will feature off-street parking for about 42 vehicles. The property also has a newly constructed garage/storage facility near the entrance.

“Moving the loading and unloading off the street will significantly improve the safety of our students,” said NRHEG Superintendent Kevin Wellen.

Due to the fact that it involved improvements to safety, the project is eligible to be paid for using Crime Levy funds.

Parents are asked to drop off students at the curb on School Street where the buses previously loaded. This will be much safer than in the new south parking lot.