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SHERBURN -- The Martin County West School Board met on Wednesday evening. The representative from the Construction Company, R.A. Morton, shared several project updates such as: rubber roofing is complete; shop floor concrete poured; second level is 90 percent; planking for balcony seating; plumbing for music and fitness underway; fire proofing for second level underway and plumber is behind and will bring in two crews to help make up time for lockers and other projects.
He said that the exterior work is on the west side. Equipment pads will be poured and finished by September, when the large equipment is scheduled to arrive. The football and track "fabric” plastic perforated sheeting for grass is scheduled for later in September. No practices will be held on those sites this fall to allow them to be completed. Fences will be up when all the other equipment is in place, to provide a place to bring in equipment.
The new building will be ready for partial occupancy next June to move things, etc. but not students. Full occupancy is predicted for July or August.
The demolition of the current high school was discussed. The plan is underway; there will be no dynamite or wrecking ball. They are planning on a company that will demolish the school and recycle the steel and other metals and wood and shred the concrete to make it recyclable. A question about demolition harming the new track was asked and he responded that there is a plan to eliminate that built into the track installation.
He invited the board to come and look at the school building again to see the progress. Several school board members were interested in touring the new building again.
Moving to other matters, Stephanie Wohlhuter was awarded Teacher of the Year by the Minnesota Association of Agriculture Education and the Board presented her with a plant to show their appreciation for her quality agriculture and FFA education skills.
Mrs. Wohlhuter talked about the FFA trip to Belize planned for 2027, perhaps in June. They will be using the Educational Tours company and flying to Belize. They will tour farms that raise cacao, sugar cane, and oranges. They have fun activities such as snorkeling and ziplining planned. Students may apply for academic credit for the trip. They have done fundraisers and have $55,000 of the $150,000 raised so far. Some corporations have helped. The cost is $4,199 per student. There are six chaperones, two MCW staff, and four parents attending. Some of the parents have medical or organizational skills. Safety is a high priority, and Mrs. Wohlhuter will be trained especially with that in mind. The board thanked her for the report.
After the committee reports, the principals' reports were given. Plans for the new school year are taking place with registration now open, new transportation information and class rosters and ESP schedules being worked on. The janitorial group is busy cleaning and preparing the schools for the coming year. The CER report included the Storybook Theatre on July 24 at 6:30 p.m. at the Sherburn Theatre, with about 30 children signed up. There were good reports from the Coach T Football Camp and there is a tackle Football group organizing now for August. The list is full of classes such as tech with Nickie, Spanish for all ages, Mini Magic Gymnastics, guitar lessons, learning unlimited, estate planning, and hopefully a Babysitting Safety and Home Alone class if there is enough interest.
In other news:
-- Superintendent Cori Reynolds spoke about the updated transportation and finances. Athletes must have signed up for school before they can attend practices. Enrollment is now open.
-- The milk bid was awarded to Prairie Farms, the fuel bid to NuWay, the snow removal at Trimont School was awarded to Jon Holtz and the Sherburn School to Tom Finke.
-- Schedules for the Meet and Confer with Certified Staff and the schedule for the Advisory Committee were approved. The Fee Schedule was approved as the same as last year and the substitute rates also. The School Board Stipend was approved as the same as last year, and to eliminate the extra stipend for the chairman of negotiations.
-- Reynolds reported that there were good negotiations and the Collective Bargaining Agreement was approved for educational, support professionals, and clerical employees. The board approved the tenure for teacher Brittany Bass unanimously. The updates concerning banking roles and responsibilities were approved.
-- The Consent Agenda was approved, including a construction draw of $2,360,089 to R.A.Morton Construction.
--The board approved hiring: Leah Amborn, Finance Coordinator; Kelly Hanson, Elementary Cook; Destiny Dover, Assistant Head Cook; Michelle Thiesse, Aug. Kinder Camp ESP; Stephanie Updike, Sherburn Elem. ESP; Jordon Smith Special Education Teacher; Adam Williamson, Carter Wille and Dustin Faber, Assistant Football Coaches; Preston Preuss and Ryan Melkart, Junior High Football Coaches; Lee Carlson, Jaxon Rohman and Adam Schorn, Volunteer Football Coaches; Sarah Longton, Junior High Volleyball Coach; Wayne Wille, Assistant Volleyball Coach; Harry Elliot, Volunteer Coach; Connie Stenson, Long-Term Substitute.
The Martin County West School Board's next meeting will be at 6 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 17.
The first day of school will be on Thursday, Aug. 20, for grades 7 to 12, and on Monday, Aug. 24, for all other grades.