By Chad Koenen

Publisher

Construction could begin as soon as next summer on an expansive $6.3 million health and safety project at Henning School. 

During its regularly scheduled meeting last week, the Henning School Board approved a resolution to seek a $6.3 million General Obligation Facilities Maintenance Bond to finance health and safety projects at the school. The bonds will be paid back over the course of 10 years and became necessary after school district voters turned away two school building referendums in both November and again in May. 

Sparks said the project will include replacing and upgrading the HVAC system for the entire school. The new HVAC system will provide better temperature control for both heating and cooling at the school, but could also result in the school being shut down for a period of time next summer.

In other news

• Accepted a donation of $900 from the Ottertail Lions Club for summer rec/swimming transportation.

• Approved the maternity leave request for Kayla Lueders.

• Approved a letter of engagement with Brady Martz to be the school district’s new auditor. 

• Heard a financial report from Rudy Martinez who said the school district has a healthy amount of investments for a school district Henning’s size. He also said he would like to see the school district go away from long term CDs like it has utilized in the past for short term investments that can generate a much higher interest rate and provide the school district with additional money for things like teachers and day-to-day operations.