School board approves land purchase for future middle school

The Tea Area School Board met June 9 and approved purchasing land for a new middle school.

The board has been working on acquiring land over the last two years. They approved purchasing 21.46 acres located at NW1/4S14T100N R51W Lincoln County. This will be located on what would eventually be North Main in the area of 269th Street. The price is $50,000 per acre and will be paid off in five years. They also approved the escrow payment to First Dakota Title for $10,000.

They approved the insurance renewal from Holmes Murphy that would include the high school expansion at $421,483.

The board approved the bid of $820,472 from Guarantee Roofing to replace roof on the high school. The project is planned to be completed by the time school starts.

The school board will not have an election this year since Chad Meyer was the only person to submit a petition.

Operations manager Wayne Larsen reported on the progress of the high school expansion. Chillers are running. The air handlers should get started next week. The plumbers are putting fixtures in restrooms. Steel, stud and drywall company has moved into putting the hallway in to connect the existing high school and the new part. Carpenters are installing cabinets in the science wing. Siding has been completed on the new addition. Electricians are everywhere. Most of the glass in the front area is in. Bleachers are in the black box room. He expects to have temporary occupancy July 7.

The board approved the resignations for Jennifer Bertsch as head eighth grade volleyball coach, Kimberly Gass as high school librarian and Mary Beth Sutton as middle school drama.

They approved the new hires of Mary Copple for high school foodservice, Kimberly Gass as Venture Elementary technology teacher, Breanna Klocke as Frontier Elementary Summer Bridge Program paraprofessional and Christina Thoms as Venture Elementary foodservice site supervisor.

The board approved the activity handbook that broadened language to include all activities instead of just referring to players. The board discussed a clean record provision but did not include it in the handbook. Kristin Daggett and Tara Johanneson didn’t think they should have a clean record provision in the handbook.

They held the first reading of Policy KG that includes adding rentals for the auxiliary gym. They also held the first reading of Policy AE, a policy on wellness.

The board thanked Superintendent Jennifer Lowery for all of her work for the district and wished her well as she starts her new role in Harrisburg.

The board went into executive session for personnel.