Ely School Board reviews construction progress and winter hires

ELY — The Ely School Board addressed athletic facility construction updates, personnel changes, and election results during its Monday meeting.
Jason Chopp, from Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc., updated the board on athletic facilities construction progress. According to Chopp, construction is approximately 65 percent complete, with work expected to advance to between 70 percent and 80 percent before winter concludes.
Crews are currently framing the concession and restroom building, doing additional concrete work on the first-base bleacher area, and an accessible ramp at the football stadium.
The board reviewed and approved a change order regarding contaminated soil and underground utility conflicts and included an amendment to the professional services agreement with SEH to add additional environmental oversight. The change order totaled $78,398.09.
Despite the additional spending, Chopp reported that approximately $347,000 remains from the $5.25 million project budget. Chopp said it was unlikely that large change orders will be added now that the construction is above ground.
“You could do an additional project,” Chopp said.
As a result, the board had a brief discussion about the use of the possible surplus but ultimately came to no conclusion. The money would have to be spent on athletic facilities construction.
Board members also approved several election-related resolutions concerning the Nov. 3 school district elections, as well as the 2026-2027 Q-Comp budget.
Board members reflected on the recent election results, noting that the school district’s referendum received approximately 62 percent of voter support.
Several staffing changes were approved, including the following winter sports hires:
• Tim Omerza, assistant boys basketball coach
• Tom Omerza, assistant girls basketball coach
• Tyler Fish, assistant Nordic skiing coach
• Riley Bishop, junior high boys basketball coach
• Jolene Schreffler, junior high girls basketball coach
• Cale Prosen, assistant JV Nordic skiing coach
• Megan Sisson, junior high Nordic skiing coach
• Clara Roy, assistant junior high Nordic skiing coach
• Carl Skustad, Sarah Sponholz, Carli Fish, volunteer Nordic skiing assistant coaches.
Looking ahead, administrators expect to present additional information about the four-day school week at a January meeting. The report will include attendance, behavior, staffing information, and survey feedback from students, families and staff.