Elk Mound Board of Education: facilities, infrastructure assessment visit completed

By Cara L. Dempski

ELK MOUND — The Elk Mound school district has taken the first step toward completing facilities outcomes listed in the new strategic plan.

In July, the Elk Mound Board of Education approved contracting with a CESA 10 team for a full facilities and infrastructure assessment. District administrator Eric Wright reported during the board’s August 21 meeting that the team had already completed the school visit for the assessment.

The appraisal was performed as the initial step toward meeting three facilities-based outcomes stipulated in the 2017 strategic plan put in place earlier this year.

The first outcome reads: “By the end of 2017-2018 fiscal year, a facilities assessment will be completed. The assessment will include a summary of the condition of all district structures and infrastructure. The assessment will include suggestions for upgrading, replacing or adding to the structures or infrastructure. A copy of the assessment will be presented to the Board of Education by the end of June 2018. A summary of this information will be shared with the community.”

Now that a physical inspection of district facilities, administrative meetings, and staff interviews have been completed by CESA 10, the assessment team will generate a report ranking items in need of repair or replacement, and when each item should be addressed.

Wright explained it will take several months for assessors to complete the written report, but seemed pleased progress is being made regarding the district’s available facilities.

The facilities outcomes are part of the larger strategic plan focused on improving the district for through staff, community involvement, and technology.

Outcome two requires the board solicit information regarding the assessment’s findings from students, teachers, families, community members and district residents. The strategic plan indicates the task needs to be completed prior to October 31, 2018. The information gathered will assist the board and district administrative team in prioritizing the facilities list.

The final outcome, to be completed prior to January 31, 2019, is completion of a prioritized list – with cost estimates – to be presented at the February 2019 board meeting.

Other business

The board also approved student and parent, athletic, teacher building-level handbooks, and teacher and support staff handbooks.

Wright informed the board the Bremer Bank in Menomonie is no longer handling security boxes, meaning items currently kept there will need to be shifted to another bank. He told the board Independence State Bank offers security boxes.

Independence requires the board approve both use of a security box at one of its banks, and a list of individuals allowed to access it.

The box at Bremer is accessible to only Wright and district accountant Mary Harrison. The district administrator also recommended adding at least two board members to the accessibility list.

The board unanimously approved moving the security box to Independence State Bank and adding two members to the list of people able to access it.

In other business, the board:

• Approved the resignation of elementary education aide Sheila Gagner, and middle and high school agriculture instructor Jeremiah Fredrickson.

• Approved hiring Abigail Opatz as a middle school math instructor, Cindy Haldeman, Melissa Gorsegner, Heather Adams and Courtney Holmes as part-time special education aides, and Chris Hanson as a part-time middle school student council advisor.

• Approved adjustments to the 2017-2018 teacher compensation guide.