SHERBURN — The Martin County West School Board met on Monday evening and Superintendent Cori Reynolds explained the plan regarding the design and planning for the new school building. The pre-design phase is complete with site planning. The next phase is design to be done now through the winter of 2025. The schematic design work includes going from a wide amount of ideas, plans and details to a narrower, more detailed plan.

The favorable bond sale may help to add design enhancements and priorities. The work on schematic design will be in November and the CORE planning team, user groups, project scope (site plan, structure type and layout) and the budget estimate will all be part of that work.

The next phase in Feb. 2025 will be design development which is structural, mechanical, plumbing, electrical, and interior and exterior finishes. The scope of the project is to be finalized and a budget is to be set for the architects.

The next phase is to work on construction documents to be done by May 2025. These include construction plans, specifications and blueprints. The construction phase is from June 2025 to the summer of 2027. The groundbreaking is scheduled for the end of the school year. Site visits weekly and project monitoring throughout the construction is planned. Reynolds plans for the CORE planning team, user groups and the School Board to have a workflow plan to make decisions, set standards, review the direction of the design and value the engineering and budget for the project. This includes working with direction and details, establishing priorities and guiding and directing design about specific spaces.

The School Board agreed to work on this project following the work plan Reynolds laid out along with the CORE planning team and user groups. There may be committees formed as needed to finish, considering security and safety, technology, career technical education and athletics. All agreed it was a big job.

Reynolds also reported on some special happenings to celebrate in the School District. The High School students interested in the work done by AGCO company in Jackson toured the plant. Mrs. Cutler used the VR headsets to explain and explore things mentioned in the books the students in English Class were reading.

She also reported on the finances and enrollment. Fifteen percent of the budget has been spent, and enrollment is 637 as of this month.

Moving to other matters, the board approved the e-learning plans which are similar to those used last year. The board asked about announcing e-learning days and Superintendent Reynolds explained the announcement must come two hours before the regular time for school. The board asked what the time was if the school was at first two hours late and then closed.

Reynolds said she assumed it would be when school was announced as closed for the day. The Board decided to meet to canvass the Nov. 5 election results at 7:30 a.m. on Nov. 15.

In other business:

— Part of the consent agenda was the hiring of Karen Lahti as 5th and 6th grade Band Teacher; Tammy Palmentera ESP and Chris O’Connor as custodian at the high school. Kevin Diekmann retired as Head Custodian effective June 2025; Joe Neppl retired as Bus Driver now and Kassandra Rothbauer is no longer ESP.

— There was a fun day at Trimont using the new playground equipment. Some students in high school made duck houses to use in the environment. Nurse Morgan used a glow potion to show the extent of harmful bacteria and others in everyday situations.

— The first reading of the following policies was approved: tobacco-free environment; school medication policy and procedure; harassment and violence with forms; drug and alcohol testing for school bus drivers and drug-free workplace/drug-free school with forms. This was an Update to include new laws and definitions. Cannabis was added and random drug testing included all staff.

— The teachers had a workshop on Monday and Superintendent Reynolds reported that the reading and English as a second language workshop went well and good information was gleaned. The principals reported their test scores were good and the high school will have a blood drive in November, and a Veterans Day program on Nov. 11.

— The CER was approved for two more years and has many classes working and planned.

— The school board went into a closed session for superintendent evaluation and sale of property issues.

The next meeting of the Martin County West School Board is scheduled at 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 18 at the Sherburn Elementary School.