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Ely School Board considers architects for building project

Keith Vandervort
Posted 9/27/18

ELY– School Board members here continued their discussion this week of a proposed facilities building project to connect the campus buildings, and make other renovations.

At the request of board …

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Ely School Board considers architects for building project

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ELY– School Board members here continued their discussion this week of a proposed facilities building project to connect the campus buildings, and make other renovations.

At the request of board member Rochelle Sjoberg, ISD 696 Superintendent Kevin Abrahamson provided a list of eight architect and design firms located in northeast Minnesota, and their potential charges associated with overseeing the multi-million dollar project.

“This is in response to the concern that we do our due diligence in regard to selecting a potential design firm for our project as we move forward,” he said.

Most architectural/design firms charge a percentage of the cost of the project and that percentage averages about seven or eight percent.

“One of the things that became apparent is that there really is a distinct difference in (their costs) if you are doing new construction, or remodeling, or a combination,” he said. “We all know what it’s like to open a wall up and go, ‘Oh, I didn’t know that was there.’ Remodeling costs tend to be much higher.”

Up to this point, Abrahamson has mostly used the services of Hibbing firm Architectural Resources, Inc. (ARI) for preliminary planning discussions. That firm worked recently on the Washington building window replacement project. Abrahamson said he also worked with ARI in previous projects at other school districts. They charged eight percent for the window project and will charge seven percent for the larger building project, he said.

He cautioned, “All information is going to be ballpark until there is a plan. This does not mean the same as design. A plan is where you want to go.”

“How do you want to move forward?” asked Board Chair Ray Marsnik, addressing the rest of the board.

“We need to get on to the next phase,” said Tom Omerza. He suggested getting teachers and staff involved in discussing what is actually wanted and needed for campus building improvements.

Marsnik agreed that getting the staff involved is an important part of the process of moving the project forward.

Heidi Mann suggested that after the architectural firm is selected, the board should have another design meeting and invite school staff to take part in it. “They should have the chance to directly ask questions of the architect,” she said.

Abrahamson was ready last month to recommend to the school board to work with ARI in designing the facilities project, when he was directed to obtain more information. Sjoberg asked if any board members had any other questions or concerns with the architect cost research. There was no response.

Abrahamson will likely again ask for the board’s approval at the October regular meeting for a recommendation to use ARI as the district’s architect for the project.

After more discussion, board members agreed that getting staff involved in the project planning, as well as asking for more community input, will be important steps as project planning moves into a design phase in the coming months.

“This is going to require more than a couple hours a month,” Omerza said.

Event passes

On a request from teachers and staff to again provide athletic and event passes at no charge, board members agreed with the idea and will likely take action next month.

“We did this in the past,” Marsnik said, “and we cut it out when we had financial difficulties, and asked everyone to sacrifice a little bit. Our budget is now in better shape, and we are being asked to reinstate this (policy).”

He said he was concerned that for the current school year, many people already purchased their season passes. “Maybe we should look at starting this again next school year,” he said.

Abrahamson added that free student passes were also suggested.

Typically, admission is charged for regular season football, volleyball, basketball, and hockey games, along with the two school plays. Fees are not charged for baseball or softball regular season games.

“I would be more inclined to want to give this to students before the staff,” said Scott Kellerman. “We can give it to both.”

Marsnik agreed. He noted that ISD 2142 board members are having the same discussion. Virginia School District also allows free student admission, according to Abrahamson.

Athletic Director Tom Coombe said the lost revenue from gate receipts is “not a lot of money in the long run, as long as that lost revenue isn’t used to cut athletic activities in the future.”

He said a family pass for a family of four costs $180 per year. There are as many as 40 home events to attend throughout the school year. Staffing each home athletic event costs about $500 a night, Coombe said. Staffing a football game is about $750 per home game. “That goes up a little bit every year,” he said. “Those expenditures are still going to be there.”

Omerza said he was in favor of having more fans attend school events. “There’s nothing like a Friday night football game, or a home basketball game. It is just pure fun,” he said.

Other business

In a special meeting following the study session, the board:

-Amended the Aug. 2018 disbursements and wire transfers due to a clerical error;

-Approved the Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent contract;

-Hired Jackie Hartleben for the bookkeeper position at four hours per day;

-Hired Lori Westrick and Cathy Braun to the open paraprofessional positions.