AIRMONT– The Fairmont Area School Board held its meeting for the second half of April on Tuesday. During the meeting it reviewed upcoming infrastructure projects which will be undertaken after the end of the current school year.

Buildings and grounds director Tyler Garrison provided an overview of some of the district’s projects. The department plans to install an outdoor seating area at Fairmont Elementary School which could be used as an outdoor classroom or during busing at the end of the school day. Another outdoor fixture will be added near the elementary school playground which will have a canopy and seating area.

At Fairmont High School the district will refurbish the gymnasium spectator entrance and the entrance to the athletic field. The district also plans to construct a concession stand at the softball field, install new partitions in the high school common areas and install new outlets for training equipment in the vocational center’s HVAC and plumbing lab.

Across the district the department is in the process of drafting a plan to address Emerald Ash Borer infestation and has been in consultation with the city’ public works department regarding new tree varieties which could be planted on school grounds.

In Superintendent Andy Traetow’s report he noted enrollment at the district throughout the school year has largely remained steady with a range of 22 over the course of the year. Current enrollment is 1,695 students. He also noted the last day of the school year will be on June 6 due to an excess of snow days. June 6 will be a half day for students with condensed times for preschool students. Families will receive an official notification from the district regarding the schedule in the coming days.

Traetow stated the district was still in the process of creating its strategic plan and characterized the committee’s most recent meeting as focused and thoughtful. He reported the committee is now considering what items or initiatives to adjust or drop in the coming years.

“Here in education we do a great job of starting things and also need to remember that comes with some replacement; obviously you cannot continue to add and add and add without changing or redirecting course,” said Traetow.

He provided no new updates regarding public health or ESSER funds.

Later the board voted to renew its lease in the Southern Minnesota Educational Campus (SMEC) for Community Education and Recreation (CER). The new lease will run through June of 2025 and is otherwise identical to the current lease. The district is considering other options for facilities which could house CER in the future.

In other business, the board:

— Accepted a grant of $100 from the Early Risers Kiwanis for the elementary school activities fund.

— Approved the resignations of Instructional Coach Kris Flohrs, Academic Support Specialist Linette Sundblad, Social Studies Teacher Halea Picha, administrative support assistant Dawn Waterbury, and High School Dean of Students Andy Walden. Earlier this month Walden accepted a position as high school principal at Granada-Huntley-East Chain Schools. The district is currently looking for a replacement.

— Approve contracts for Preschool Teacher Kaytlyn Wensauer, Physical Education/Health Teacher Shawna Zabinski, and Art Teacher Ashley Haake. Haake is currently the creative arts specialist at the Red Rock Center for the Arts.

— Is still in the process of finding a replacement for student board member Solveig Senf who will graduate at the end of the current school year.