Residents sought to serve on H-BC facility committee

A committee of 20 stakeholders will help with long-term facility decisions for the Hills-Beaver Creek School District, and interested members have until Aug. 1 to apply.
The H-BC School Board Building and Grounds Committee worked with ATS & R Architects of Minneapolis to evaluate the district facilities.
At the July 11 meeting, that group recommended a stakeholders committee to consider the 215-page study of the H-BC facilities.
“The physical condition of the buildings in the district vary with their age,” the report states.
“Building utilization, educational program, support spaces, space adequacy, physical building deficiencies and site issues were evaluated. In addition, questionnaires were distributed to the principals exploring the functional strengths and areas for improvement for each school.”
Aspects of each facility were scored to assist in possible changes.
Facilities received “urgent,” “medium” (in one to five years) or “low” (six to 10 years) ratings that could be adjusted, depending on stakeholder committee recommendations and costs.
A district-wide survey in September will gauge residents’ support for improvements.
In the facilities report, architects included possible building additions and relocating various programs in the elementary school in Beaver Creek and secondary school in Hills.
Districtwide, costs ranged widely, with $7.6 million meeting the identified “urgent” and “medium” projects.
For the stakeholders group, the H-BC School Board wants a range of members, such as H-BC staff, agriculture landowners living in the district and home renters with children attending the district.
The committee is expected to meet periodically through the 2022-23 school year.
To be considered for the stakeholders committee, apply at https://forms.gle/QWWZYijC2hWE6uZA7 or contact Todd Holthaus, Superintendent, Hills-Beaver Creek Schools, P.O. Box 547, 301 N. Summit Ave., Hills, MN 56138.
Holthaus can be reached by email at t.holthaus@isd671.net.
Selected individuals to the committee will be notified by Aug. 5.