REGIONAL- With things mostly locked in for the fast-approaching new school year, the ISD 2142 school board turned its attention at Tuesday’s meeting to a review of facilities projects across the district, a list that Facilities and Grounds Director Mike Vieau said has had its share of highs, lows, and unforeseen obstacles.
In a detailed rundown to the board, Vieau highlighted upgrades at every school in the district. While many projects are moving ahead smoothly, one major initiative, wastewater system upgrades at South Ridge, has been anything but smooth.
“The entire project was a challenge to say the least,” Vieau said of the South Ridge work. “The control panel came with many, many flaws. Everything got bounced in shipping, so each individual wiring junction was wired improperly. That had to all be reworked.”
And that wasn’t the only issue.
“The building was horrifically sited by guys who aren’t carpenters,” Vieau told the board. “We made them redo that completely. The fence was a little wonky, and there were some other things they missed on installation. But we held their feet to the fire and made sure that we got ($1.3 million) worth construction. But South Ridge was just a comedy of errors.”
The story was much different at North Woods School, where a similar wastewater project is nearing completion, minus the headaches.
“That is going much better than the previous one,” Vieau said. “It’s nice to have a local contractor. I’m so glad I insisted on seeking bids in papers rather than just submitting with the engineers as we did last time.”
The dirt work is essentially finished, and all components are installed except for the control panel, which is due in mid-August, Vieau said.
“Wires run, conduits in, piping is all done. Valves are all in,” Vieau reported.
Another item being addressed at North Woods is a new playground that was constructed over heavy clay soil, which has caused the playground to flood.
“Whenever there’s a big rain, all of the cedar chips inside start to float,” Vieau said.
Drain tile will now be installed and tied into an existing drain line leading to an infiltration basin.
Other improvements at the school include a stabilized driveway apron and corner and repairs to the baseball and softball field, a project slated for last year that was delayed due to a mix-up with the contractor. Vieau said that work will now be done in-house and completed next month.
Tower-Soudan
Though the Tower-Soudan site had less planned work than other schools, one unexpected breakdown prompted the need for fast action.
“Last week our water heater went out,” Vieau said. “The (Scenic Rivers clinic is renting, and we have to supply hot water to them, so it was kind of a rushed repair.”
The original water heater, a massive 200-gallon, 200,000 BTU unit, proved both excessive and improperly installed.
“The exhaust flue is too long, the piping runs are too long. Legal limits on both were 75 for the exhaust, 100 for the hot water side, and we are nearly double on both,” he said. “To retrofit similar to the existing one you’d have to move it to the other side of the boiler room.”
With no showers, pool, or locker rooms in the building, Vieau decided a smaller, cheaper alternative would meet the need, and opted for a pair of smaller 55-gallon electric units. The fix came in at just under $10,000, compared to nearly $30,000 for a full replacement
Northeast Range
Northeast Range has a number of improvements on tap, beginning with a bus barn re-roof project scheduled for August. Vieau noted that testing for black mold and asbestos came back negative, clearing the way for the work.
Other projects include:
• Cafeteria flooring and kitchen serving line
• Potential terrazzo tile flooring installation
• Courtyard siding and tuckpointing
• A welding and robotics room upgrade, with $48,000 in grant funding secured but a likely final price tag exceeding $100,000.
Vieau expressed frustration that engineers’ estimates often come in far lower than reality.
“There again, prevailing wage, engineering fees, all that happy stuff. It’s never cheaper than you imagine,” he said.
Crunching the numbers
Finance Director Kim Johnson walked the board through the financials behind the slate of projects and maintenance needs. Johnson noted that facilities projects are funded through a long-term facilities maintenance (LTFM) fund as well as additional grant sources, and none of those restricted funds can be used to address the district’s general fund shortfall.
Johnson confirmed the district now has authority to levy for roofing repairs, something previously excluded from LTFM.
“That’s the good news there,” she said. “At least now they’re covering some roofings through LTFM.”
Vieau welcomed that shift.
“We’ve got roofing systems dating back to the mid-90s, so we need to start tackling them,” he said. Johnson noted that the district had the roofs evaluated eight years ago, and that they would use that plan to guide repairs.
Vieau said he turned down an offer from the company to update that evaluation for around $250,000.
“I don’t need then to tell us that our roofs are eight years older now,” he said.
In other business, the board:
• Approved a memorandum of understanding with the Bois Forte Vermilion Head Start program.
• Approved state-mandate LTFM reports.
• Renewed the designation of Superintendent Reggie Engebritson as the district’s Identified Official with Authority (IOWA) to access MDC online systems.
• Hired Blake Scofield as a half-time elementary teacher at North Woods.
• Hired Amos Kolodji as a full-time math teacher at Northeast Range.
• Hired Adam Hagen as a part-time elementary physical education teacher at NER.
• Hired Timoth Kulik as a full-time special education teacher at NER.
• Hired Scout Aiken as a part-time special education teacher at NER.
• Hired Amanda DeGraef and Malania Madill as full-time elementary teachers at NER.
• Hired Eric Slininger as a part-time language arts teacher at NW.
• Coaching hires included Head Football Coach Joel Anderson and assistants Mark Fabish, Jared Bangs, Jordan Villebrun, and Matt Kock at NW; Head Volleyball Coach Kaileen Redmond and assistants Rebecca Lappi and Cherie Seopa at NW; Head Volleyball Coach Misty Roseth and assistant Camryn Meyer at NER; Head Girls Swim Coach Cheri DeBeltz and assistant Sue Pasmick at NER; and Adam Hagan as assistant cross country coach at NER.
• The board accepted the retirement of NW library assistant Chris Gabrielson and resignations from NW paraprofessional Molly Krueger, NER Check and Connect mentor Jaden Scherer, NW assistant basketball coach Mya Buffetta, and NER site secretary Sena Bissonette.