By Jolene Farley
After some discussion Monday evening, the Hills-Beaver Creek Board of Education unanimously agreed to retain the services of Group II Architects for the high school locker room and possible fitness center project.
The board has been considering an addition to Hills-Beaver Creek High School. Building committee members can now begin meeting with Group II Architects to solidify building plans and arrive at a cost estimate for the project.
Group II Architects, Spitznagel Inc., and Hartman Architecture, all of Sioux Falls, made presentations to the board at the Feb. 26 meeting, hoping to be hired.
Superintendent Tom Knoll recommended the board hire Group II at Monday’s meeting. He said all references for both Group II and Hartman Architecture Inc. checked out. All parties the firms had done work for in the past would rehire them for future work.
Knoll never called references for Spitznagel, Inc., citing a lack of enthusiasm toward smaller projects as his reason.
The board and Knoll expressed concern the Hartman Group's presentation contained more information pertaining to construction management services rather than architectural services.
All board members agreed a construction manager wasn't needed for this project.
"If we didn't need one for the elementary (school) we don’t need one for this project," said board member Alan Harnack.
Group II Architects' extensive work in Minnesota was a deciding factor for the board.
"I like Group II also," Board member Ann Boeve said before she made the motion in their favor. "I like the fact they have done a lot of Minnesota schools."
All day every day kindergarten going well
Kindergarten teachers Michele Baker and Shelly Fischer updated the board on the switch to all day every day kindergarten.
Both teachers gave glowing reports on the virtues of the new schedule. "This year we have seen a great improvement, especially in Chapter kids," said Fischer.
The new schedule allows teachers to make changes to the curriculum for kids who need it, according to Fischer. Before, teachers had to very lightly touch on curriculum because the kids were in school only two or three days per week.
The teachers stressed to the board the importance of smaller class sizes. "These small class sizes really, really count. We are able to reach those kids who need our help," Fischer said.
Baker and Fischer plan to send out a survey at the end of the school year asking parents for their comments and concerns.