Lanesboro School Board member Dave Lawstuen gave the facilities committee report at the April 19 meeting. HSR Associates, the architecture firm working with the district on the buildings’ proposed improvements, provided maps, mock-ups, and a detailed concept plan to help those present at the meeting to visualize the changes and additions.
The projects that the facilities committee would like to see completed were listed by priority level. Building safety and security were at the top of the list, followed by energy efficiency, and modern learning environments. Building safety and security would include building a new secure and ADA compliant entrance to the school with enhanced office visibility, new classroom door locks, and an improved daycare drop-off area. Measures taken to make the school more energy efficient would include a mechanical system upgrade and LED lighting throughout the school to replace the original 1959 light fixtures. A modern learning environment would be achieved in part by creating a multi-purpose room, flexible classrooms with creator spaces, and a remodel of all of the high school classrooms.
The committee would like to dedicate $30,000 per classroom to install new flooring, replace the old dated furniture with new, and repaint the walls, leaving one wall in each room with dry erase paint so students and teachers could use it for studies.
Other projects such as a chemistry lab and ag classroom remodels, installation of 18” lockers, improved classroom storage, music room expansion, gender neutral bathrooms, and an overhead door for the wood shop are also being considered.
When the facilities committee was putting together the original concept plan, they reached out to Lanesboro school alumni for input and appreciated the feedback they received. “It seems that we have a disproportionate number of students who go on to be engineers, and I’m proud of that,” Lawstuen said, pointing on that that’s the reason for the chemistry lab remodel proposal. “We want to better serve those students.”
A blueprint of the school was handed out, showing the changes and additions that the concept plan includes for the building. A main entrance with community room and open commons area would essentially divide the school into two distinct regions, with the high school on one end of the building and the elementary and daycare areas on the other end. A new daycare would be built on the east side of the building near the elementary library, and a second gymnasium with an indoor playground built just to the east of the original gym. The indoor playground would allow students to stay active even during inclement weather and would also be ADA compliant.
“I’m just really pleased with what I see here,” Board chair Dave Ruen noted. “This is addressing all of our big issues.”
A community meeting was set to discuss the proposed updates to the school on May 9 at 7 p.m.
In his board report, Superintendent Matt Schultz thanked the district’s van and bus drivers for getting all of the students home safely during April 18 snowstorm.
Superintendent Schultz is currently working to get the high school class schedule ready for the 2018/19 school year. Prom will be held on May 5 this year.
A $10,000 grant was received from the Minnesota Twins Field of Dreams program to re-do the ball field. Plans are being made to begin the demolition process in May, and a timeline of the project will be put together with the Lanesboro Park Board soon. The City of Lanesboro and the Lanesboro school district are working together on the project and are looking for volunteers to help. They are hoping to have it completed by June 4, which is when summer rec starts.
A resignation from Lanesboro Child Care Center director Heidi Brown was approved. In her letter of resignation, Brown noted how much she’s valued the time she spent working at the center. “We certainly thank Heidi for her years of service here,” Ruen said. A resignation from volleyball coach Corey Johnson was also approved by the board as well as an FMLA leave of absence for Dana Norby beginning May 21.
The next Lanesboro School Board meeting will be held on May 17 at 7 p.m.
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