SHERBURN — The Martin County West School Board met Monday evening in Sherburn. A special meeting/work session was held at 5:30 p.m. with ISG that evaluated the facilities of the school district.

ISG representatives explained the many options and the proposed costs and pros and cons of each plan. The school board eliminated all but four options and asked the company representatives to revise the plans with more information on those four options. They plan to meet on March 20 before the regular board meeting again. The board plans to get some final options in May and June and have a community survey. They will then propose the options during the summer and the final decision will be made in November with the elections.

The representatives said the bids included demolition and that there would be a one year period to fix anything that did not pass inspection or expectations given. The predicted declining enrollment was a concern and the option of one location was discussed with agreement that it would lower mileage. There were some members of the public present. The options to work on chosen by the school board were: Build a new building with a cost of $73 million; Close Trimont school and have two sites in Sherburn with a cost of $55 to 65 million for additions and remodeling; Close Trimont and Sherburn Elementary and have one site (HS site) with a cost of $55 to $60 million for additions and remodeling; Close high school and Trimont and have one site (elementary site) with a cost of $40 to $50 million for additions and remodeling. Some of the options they eliminated were to dissolve the school district, to keep all three school buildings, to just keep Trimont and close the other two (high school and Sherburn Elementary) and keep Trimont and Sherburn Elementary and close high school site. The board thanked the representatives for their work and agreed there was a lot more work to be done.

Following the work session, Auditor, Craig Coppenhagen, from the company, Clifton/Larson/Allen, gave a presentation. He said they had a clean audit which meant the deficiencies were explained there were no non-compliance items even with Covid money involved. There were no accounting changes but there may be some software constrictions next year. The unrestricted fund balance was $3 million which is about 17 percent of the general balance and what is expected so the district could operate for two months should the need arise. Operating capital was $490,000+, $280,000+, food service fund balance was $199,000+, community service fund was down due to Covid expenses to $75,000, and the debt service was pretty normal at $599,000, compared to other years.

Income was usual with 70 percent from state sources and 11 percent from federal sources and the rest from local and other sources. The capital expenses were higher due to the new roof on the high school, expenses which are needed to keep it water tight so the floor etc. was not damaged, kind of a preventative maintenance. Most of the expense was supplies and student support was 70 percent. He said to expect a slow decline in enrollment. It was down from 700+ to 600+. The support services uses $1,300 per student and the special education was maintained as level from years before which is good since some school districts are having trouble maintaining that level.

Following the auditor report, the Superintendent report was given by Cory Reynolds. She reported the expenditures were at a normal level. The enrollment was down just a few students to 644. She explained the achievement and integration goals and budget of $45,746. There was an increase in college readiness and proficiency of students eligible for reduced funds and an increase in graduation goals. There was also increases in math, reading and science skills, out of school program enrollment to 40 percent with a goal of 45 percent by 2025, leadership skills (this is a collaboration with Butterfield-Odin schools) and equity literacy training for staff.

Moving to other matters, there was a presentation from the senior class about their upcoming senior trip in April by students, Larson and Bachenberg. They will go to Gettysburg, then Washington D.C., Mount Vernon, Ford Theatre and a night bus tour of Washington. The next tour will be the Holocaust Museum and the National Mall. The last day they will see the Washington Monument, Smithsonian, Arlington Cemeteryand see a movie ‘Sheer Madness’ at the Kennedy Center before they depart for home.

In other action:

– The board congratulated two teachers for their many years of service and wished Laurie Jensen and Darrell Ziegler well on their retirement.

— The board accepted with thanks donations from Cougar Run/Pipestone Cares of $1,000 for FFA, $100 from NuWay/K&H, and $200 from Harbor Freight for MCW Robotics, $250 from Thrivent and Cindy and Dean Sinn for winter clothing for elementary students, $750 from Sherburn Lions Club for Try Day Friday program for elementary students and $103 from Farmers State Bank for high school class accounts.

— The board approved letting bids for partial re-roofing of the Jr./Sr. High School building, the audit report, the senior class trip, achievement and integration plans, and entering into an agreement with Butterfield/Odin School district for boys and girls track and field for 2022-2023 year. The athletic directors and coaches agreed to this cooperation. The make-up days needed so far will be April 6 and June 2 with hopes that this will be all the make-up days needed. Reports from principals and the CER director were given. The CER AED and CPR classes went well. Swimming lessons are underway

which will add parent/child lessons for younger children.

The board scheduled a special meeting with ISG representatives for 5:30 p.m. on March 20, and the regular school board meeting to follow at 6:30 p.m. that night.