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Rush City referendum passesBy MaryHelen Swanson ìIím more than happy for the kids, Iím happy for the community.î said Rush City School District #139 Superintendent Tim Eklund Tuesday morning after having a little over 12 hours to digest the news that the voters of the district approved both questions on Monday nightís referendum. ìItís a reaffirmation that weíre on the move,î he added. In the second go around, voters turned out in fewer numbers, but approved both the elementary school building project and the high school roof replacement project by wide margins. Eklund spoke briefly Monday night after the election results were received from the head judge saying, ìItís not always easy starting over after a defeat.î Last fall the first referendum failed when both items, the elementary building and the roof replacement, were on one ballot that also included a new bus garage and some other school building improvements. Following that defeat, a new building committee went to work with a new architect and new construction manager. They met diligently week after week in the early part of the year preparing for this weekís referendum. The first question wasnít quite right, Eklund said, noting that the new committee built on the work of the first committee and, through a lot of collaboration, the issues were ironed out. For one thing, they listened to the people. The committee carefully considered comments from district residents after the first referendum failed. Their ideas and suggestions were valued, noted committee members. On Tuesday, Eklund was asked by the Post Review ìWhatís next?î Initially, he said, there will be a lot of procedural issues addressed. By late Tuesday morning auditors, the Minnesota School Board Association and the Department of Children, Families and Learning had been notified of the election results. Preparatory work will begin to call for a bond sale which is expected to occur May 30. At a May 9 regular school board meeting, the school board is expected to extend the contracts with Setter, Leach & Lindstrom and RJM Construction, Eklund said. Then the detail work begins where the staff, community, elementary principal, architect and administration begin to create the actual design of the new facility to meet the needs of the kids. He said it is important to keep a fine balance between moving quickly and being very thorough. He said it is important to examine decisions and that, he said, sometimes takes time. The work on the high school roof is expected to begin May 20 and is should take five months to complete. Roofing contractors should begin setting up a construction site around May 13. ©ECM Post Review |