By Chad Koenen

Publisher

A new formal entrance to the high school gym will not be added to this summers school building project—at least as presented last week.  ¶  During its regularly scheduled meeting last Tuesday night, the Henning School Board heard from Nathan Norton, of ICS, concerning three proposals to create a new entrance for the high school gym. The project would have been tacked onto the school building project set for this summer at the school.  ¶  “The idea was what can be done over here to make this more appealing,” said Norton of the entrance to the gym.  

¶  Over the past few months ICS representatives stated they have heard of concerns from Henning School representatives about confusion from the general public about which entrance to use for school activities in the high school gym.  ¶  The school board was presented with three options during the meeting, including placing a large sign near the road and entrance, adding lettering to the outside of the building stating activities entrance, adding additional lighting and raising the roof line above the current entrance and one option that would create a new overhang near the activities entrance.

The costs for the projects were estimated to range from $51,100 to just under $85,000. 

Several school board members expressed a hesitation to spend that much money to create a new formal entrance to the high school gym, and instead preferred to look into options like simply placing lettering on the school if needed.

“I just don’t see how we can justify the dollar amount,” said board chair Reed Reinbold.

In other news

• Heard a presentation from the Henning School trap team. The trap team continues to grow in popularity and has 28 students participating in the program this spring. There is also a fall trap team as well. The students asked the school board to increase its contribution to the trap team from $35 per student to $40 per student to meet rising costs associated with the sport. 

• Approved a rental agreement with the Landmark Center for use as the district office this summer. The change is due to the summer construction project at the school. The cost for rent will be $750 per month and will include all utilities. Office staff will begin working at the Landmark Center beginning May 20 and the office will be open to the public Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. School board meetings will also be held at the Landmark Center from May through August. 

• Approved the purchase of the 2008 Ford Willow Creek/city bus from the City of Henning for $10,000. 

• Approved designating Wednesday, May 15 as the last student day for Henning School students. The original last day of school was scheduled for Thursday, May 16. 

• Discussed the potential for up to 10 half days of school next year for staff development. There has not been a formalized school calendar that has been presented for the 2024-25 school year, but the school board heard there will need to be additional staff development time next year due to the implementation of the Read Act. The new state mandate, entitled the READ Act, was signed into law by Governor Tim Walz on May 24, 2023.The goal of the legislation is to have every Minnesota child reading at or above their grade level every year, beginning in kindergarten. It is also aimed at supporting multilingual learners and students receiving special education services in achieving their individualized reading goals. The READ Act replaces Read Well by Third Grade and became in effect on July 1, 2023.