ELY – The ISD 696 School Board on Monday night heard the good news that the building renovation project is finally nearing completion.
“The project is winding down,” Superintendent John Klarich said.
Klarich said that as things wrap up with the 21st Century Facility Project, some of the bills submitted are being looked at more closely.
“We had a construction meeting last week, Tim, Anne and Jeff and myself took Kraus to task on some things that aren’t getting done,” he said. Klarich also mentioned there was some miscommunication about what should be billed out as far as the cleaning that led up to school opening.
“There seems to be a little discussion about the contractors that helped clean. Jackie flagged it for us, and Tim followed up,” he said. “We’re supposed to be waiting for a credit on some things. We are challenging some of these bills.”
The board voted unanimously to accept several donations that included money and donated instruments to support Ely’s band program, as well as funding for athletic participation fees, media center, industrial tech and maker space. Principal Anne Oelke explained the administrative team has been working closely with the Ely Educational Foundation to help highlight what’s needed.
“One donor wiped out the band inventory wish list,” she said. “They want to spend money. They just needed people to sit down and make a pretty extensive list for them.”
In other business the board:
• Approved the following coaching positions for the 2022-23 winter sports seasons: Tim Omerza, assistant boys’ basketball coach; Tom Omerza assistant girls’ basketball coach; Tyler Fish, assistant Nordic ski coach; Tim Hegman and Duane Lossing, assistant hockey coaches; Pat Vanderbeek and Riley Bishop, junior high boys’ basketball coaches; Erin Lowe and Jen Zgonc, junior high girls’ basketball coaches; and Nate LaFond and Megan Thiele, junior high skiing coaches.
• Approved the 2022-23 QComp budget.
• Canceled the Dec. 26 regular school board meeting due to mandated date change and allow business manager and bookkeeper to process and pay bills until next school board meeting.
• Approved taking the initial step to formulate a school event cancellation policy to address future circumstances that might require this.
• Noted that the school website needs updating. Principal Carey said he would see that the issue is addressed.
• The next regular meeting of the board will be Monday, Nov. 28 at 6 p.m.