by Mike Knaak
editor@thenewsleaders.com
The Sartell-St. Stephen school board approved construction contracts to remodel the existing high school for middle school use during its May 20 meeting.
The contracts for 27 individual projects total $6,919,099.
Four other projects totaling $472,972 did not receive bids. Those projects will be awarded later.
The construction is necessary as the school district reconfigures grades as the district opens a new high school for the 2019-20 school year. The existing high school will be remodeled and will open as a middle school for the 2020-21 school year and the current middle school will house grades three to five. The district has conducted a poll to select a name for that building. The results will be announced in the fall.
After several months of study and discussion, the board also approved more reconfiguration plans.
For the 2020-21 school year, Oak Ridge Elementary School will be designated as a pre-kindergarten, kindergarten Early Learning Center. Pine Meadow Elementary School will serve first and second graders.
Superintendent Jeff Schwiebert said he’s received a number of questions about how busing will work for the new building lineup.
The board also formally approved a revised school calendar to deal with the past winter’s snow days.
Board members voted to approve Feb. 18 and April 22 as regular school days for the loss of the instructional days. June 1 will be a half-day workshop and a half day of professional development. June 2 will be a building staff development day at all buildings with the exception of the high school, which will use it as a moving day. June 3 will be a half day of professional development and there will be six hours of flexible professional development for certified staff to make up for the lost time.
