by Logan Gruber
operations@thenewsleaders.com
From 9-11 a.m. Nov. 14, the city hosted an open house at Colts Academy, 124 First Ave. SE, St. Joseph. The space was purchased by the city from the St. Cloud school district for use as a community center once the district moves out. The space is currently used as the early childhood education facility for the district.
About a dozen people showed up for the open house, mostly just to look around.
“No one gave any real feedback [about future use for the community center], they seemed to just be getting a feel for the building,” Mayor Rick Schultz said.
Another open house will be held though a date has not yet been set.
The mayor also mentioned he would be interested in getting groups inside the space, if infrequently, to use the gym when the district is not.
Schultz met with Superintendent Willie Jett on Nov. 17. The district is supposed to vacate Colts Academy by July 1, 2017.
Now, with the failed referendum, the district is facing blowback against plans to move the early childhood programs from Colts to a new facility at the current Clark Field location in St. Cloud. The district originally had a plan to put a $25 million building on Clark Field for early childhood education, community education, adult basic education, the district welcome center, media services and the administrative offices. But that plan is on hold for the moment, and the district is exploring alternatives for their early childhood and administrative needs.
Schultz said the city wants to be involved in the conversation early if the school district is having trouble finding a new location for the early childhood programs. It may be a possibility that the deadline of July 1, 2017 would need to be extended if the district can’t find a suitable location, but that would be up to the council to decide.
The city held an open house Nov. 14 at the Colts Academy building which will eventually be used as a community center. Land around the building may be used in the future to build a city hall/police station.
