FAIRMONT – Superintendent Andy Traetow shared several updates regarding the students and facilities at the Fairmont School Board meeting on Tuesday.

At the forefront for Traetow were enrollment numbers for the beginning of this school year, which the school board had been waiting on. He said while junior/senior high numbers are around the same, increases are coming at the elementary school.

“When we ended last school year, we had 1,691 students enrolled in our district,” Traetow said. “As of today, we have 1,755. We have three fewer students at the junior senior high school [than] we did a year ago. We have 45 additional students at the elementary from where we did a year ago. That is a significant increase and speaks volumes to the quality work all of our staff do.”

Several updates were given for changes to facilities and school grounds. Traetow said they are currently seeking quotes from companies interested in demolishing the Cardinal Park Fieldhouse. He said that project is still slated to be completed this fall. The school will also be removing 10 trees, with the same amount being planted to replace them.

“As our community members see trees being taken down due to the Emerald Ash Borer disease, we are committed to replacing at minimum one to one replacement for all those tree varieties,” Traetow said. “We don’t [want to] get in a similar situation down the road where we have entire boulevards with similar species of tree planted right next to each other.”

The Performing Arts Center’s new lighting system has now been fully installed, with trainings fully completed. Traetow said it will be on full display when the fall musical “Grease” is performed.

“Our early November board meeting will have the musical cast members as well as leadership to explain more about those enhancements in the upcoming performance,” he said.

Also on the horizon is 2025’s Minnesota Student Survey. The survey is given every three years through the Minnesota Departments of Education, Health, Human Services, and Public Safety.

“That will be available for our students to provide data and feedback on their experiences for us as schools, community leaders, and policymakers,” Traetow said. “To have insight that provides more information as we make decisions.”

The survey will be given January through May 2025 to 5th, 8th, and 11th grade students. Parents and families will get information about it ahead of time, and it is completely optional.