FAIRMONT– The Fairmont School Board on Tuesday heard a round-up of projects the buildings and grounds and maintenance departments have completed within the district in the last year.

Director of buildings and grounds, Tyler Garrison, said, “we’re putting money back into our buildings, continually trying to keep things updated which with our facilities as old as they are is a huge thing to get done.”

Garrison said some bigger projects they completed last year include: high school building roof work; LED lighting added to tennis courts; new kitchen items added; removal of trees by athletic fields; painting interior of buildings; new ceiling in elementary school gym; repainted parking lots; added rubber mulch to the playground; repaired water lines.

He said they’re also continually changing filters on air handler units.

“If anyone is worried about germs and Covid we have added an extra changing since Covid has hit,” Garrison said.

Board member Julie Laue said she compliments the staff on how hard they work on not only keeping the buildings clean, but keeping them in good shape despite the age of the buildings.

“Everything that’s on this list is all part of that maintenance and keeping things in good repair,” she said.

As for upcoming plans this summer, Garrison said they’re looking at a playground upgrade on the north side of the elementary school, a science classroom remodel, weight room remodel and the sports spectator entrances at the high school.

Regarding the new vocational building, Garrison said many people have likely noticed the walls are starting to go up. He said they had a couple of days of cold weather that slowed down work last week, but they’re back on track this week.

During his superintendent report, Andy Traetow also spoke about the vocational expansion project. He said they’re now one-third into the project and have a projected completion date of June.

“At this point we are on budget,” he said.

Regarding the new HVAC lab which will be in the vocational building, Traetow said high school co- principals Chad Brusky and Alex Schmidt have been meeting with area experts and talking to other professionals in the field to work on the development of the program.

On the Covid front, Traetow said as of Jan. 7, there were a total of eight positive Covid cases among students in both school buildings.

Traetow also spoke about the federal emergency temporary standard that went into effect Jan 10.

“We are as a school district are implementing the expectations of that ETS as of yesterday. One thing to note, this is not an independent, voluntary act of the school district, and it is in compliance with the timelines and requirements of OSHA and MNOSHA,” Traetow said.

Because the school district employee more than 100 people, it is required to develop a policy that is ready to go into place should the ruling be passed by the U.S. Supreme Court. Traetow said the district is adopting the Covid-19 vaccination or testing and face covering policy.

Moving to other matters, the board heard some details regarding the contract settlement between Education Minnesota-Fairmont and Fairmont Area Schools.

“We’ve mentioned this several times throughout the fall, a lot of meetings between our negotiation committee and teachers,” said board member Mike Edman.

The two year contract runs 2021-2023. The contract includes a 2.25 percent increase in teacher salary schedule 2021-22 and a 2 percent increase in teacher salary the following year. There is also a 2 percent increase in coaching salaries, and 2 percent increase in stipends for fine arts and other extracurricular salaries for 2021-22 and 2022-23.

Distributions from the district toward health insurance premiums in the 2021-22 school year is a $370 increase per employee and a $300 increase in the second year.

“It was a lot of negation but one worth doing. We’re very glad we were able to come into agreement,” said Edman.

The board approved the agreement.

The board accepted the following donations:

— $16,222 from the athletic booster club for boys and girls athletics.

— $500 anonymous donation for purchase of equipment for the new HVAC program.

The board made the following election of officers:

— Board member Nicole Green as president.

— Board member Rufus Rodriguez as vice president.

— Board member Mari Myren as clerk.

— Board member Julie Laue as treasurer.