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H-BC begins closer look at school facilities

By
Mavis Fodness

Hills-Beaver Creek School Board members recently signed an agreement with a construction management company to guide them through possible improvements to the district’s facilities.
The pre-plan process from Preston Euerle of R.A. Morton & Associates of St. Cloud will be at no charge to the district.
“The fees for providing pre-referendum facility planning are ‘at risk/no charge’ until the referendum is successful or the board decides not to go to a referendum,” Euerle wrote in the proposal.
“Upon a successful bond referendum, we would apply the base fee toward the project budget and invoice for the (pre-) referendum service.”
Cost is $10,000.
Any potential bond referendum vote would take place in 2022.
Meanwhile, Euerle will review the recently completed facility assessments of the elementary and high school buildings and the Hugo Goehle gymnasium.
He will develop a plan/budget to present to board members this fall.
 
$7.5 million in facility upgrades identified
Late last year, H-BC school officials reviewed a list of recommended facility upgrades, completed by ICS Builds of Sioux Falls.
Nearly $7.5 million worth of improvements are recommended over the next 10 years.
The firm assessed various components inside and outside of the elementary school in Beaver Creek, the secondary school in Hills, the bus garages, the Hugo
Goehle gymnasium and the former high school no longer in use.
School officials have identified the Top 10 projects that could be completed from 2022 to 2032.
Euerle will assist in identifying projects, costs and how the improvements can be funded. The district levies roughly $150,000 annually for facility maintenance and upgrades.
The elementary school needs the most attention, according to the ICS Builds report.
The boiler system is inefficient and contributes to the district’s high energy costs. At 24 years old, the boiler system is several years beyond the recommended median life of 15 years.
Improvements to the Goehle gymnasium were estimated at $1 million.
 
Euerle: Community input a must
Community input is part of the district’s plan, as discussed with Euerle at a recent meeting with the district’s buildings and grounds committee.
“We want to study it first, then get the proposal out there and everyone will have their say,” said board member Ethan Rozeboom.
A community building committee will be organized this fall to consider Euerle’s recommendations and bring forward a possible bond referendum to the board next year.

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