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Discussion continues on fitness center locker room construction

By Jolene Farley
The Hills-Beaver Creek Board of Education continued discussion Monday about building new locker rooms and a community fitness center at Hills-Beaver Creek High School.

The board directed Superintendent Tom Knoll to arrange tours of the Edgerton and Heron Lake-Okabena locker room facilities.

Building committee members Dave Roozenboom, Ann Boeve and Lloyd DeBoer will tour the two facilities and note positives and negatives at each location.

Knoll was also asked to arrange board interviews with three architect firms.

"The committee needs architects to find out exact costs," said Boeve. Public meetings will not be scheduled until cost figures are gathered on the project, according to Boeve.

The city has verbally committed to help with the project. "They are really enthusiastic about it but they want to see some figures," said Boeve.

In other board business:

oDue to extra snow days, the board passed a motion adding Tuesday, Feb. 20, to the class calendar. Tuesday was not originally scheduled as a duty day for teachers or students. The district has used five full school days this winter. If any more snow days are needed, the district will also add Easter Monday.

oThe board passed a motion requiring a fund balance of $500 per pupil unit at all times. There were no previous fund balance requirements. Superintendent Knoll expressed concern about the uncertainty of state contributions for education in the future. "If Ventura continues, funding could come to a screeching halt," said Knoll.

oThe board decided not to hire an immediate replacement for full-time high school social studies and English instructor Leon Pick after his retirement at the end of the school year. The board may add a half-time position later, according to Knoll.

Knoll suggested reorganization of high school classes and dropping a section of English and science. The senior class size this year is reduced 20 kids from last year. "No curriculum would be dropped. It would be just a modification of sections," Knoll said. "Curriculum isn't being hurt."

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