The Osakis School District is getting closer to building a new bus garage as school board members approved the purchase of land at the Monday, March 8, school board meeting.
A motion was made, which was unanimously approved, for the approval of the “land acquisition at a purchase price that is fair and equitable for both sides.”
The cost of the property is not known yet as the school district is working with the sellers, according to Superintendent Randy Bergquist.
The 1.92-acre piece of property is owned by Helmer and Jeanette Wright. It is on First Avenue East near Rush Street, a couple blocks southeast of the school.
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The school district is working with RA Morton, a construction management firm out of St. Cloud, on the project.
The new facility will be able to house 15 buses, three vans, along with wash and maintenance bays and support space.
In other action
School board members approved the following other items:
Hirings for the following positions – Alex Mess, junior high track coach; Laken Lymburner, junior high golf coach; Erik Van Tuyl, junior high baseball coach; Kelsey Proell, junior high softball coach; and Bill Infanger and Kendell Proell; co-head baseball coach.
Resignations from Samantha Chisholm, paraprofessional; Laken Lymburner, junior high track coach; Matt Hoelscher, junior high baseball coach; Ana (Chisholm) Wilebski, junior high softball coach; and also a retirement resignation from Vicki Hinrichs, paraprofessional and bus driver.
School board members decided to table the approval of the 2021-2022 school calendar as there were questions about the number of “early out” days. These are days where students are let out at 1 p.m. Some school board members thought the district should look into doing late starts instead and some thought maybe there just shouldn’t be as many. As the calendar stands right now, there are five early outs planned for next year.
Those days, according to Bergquist, are used for staff development. He said during those hours, staff are engaged in activities that are beneficial for both them and the students.
The board plans to bring the item back to the next school board meeting for more discussion before the calendar is approved.
