Madison School District 321

District News

Junior High to move to old high school in 2011

DL Beck wins bid to remodel the building

REXBURG—Starting next school year, students attending the junior high school will move into a new building — the old high school.

The move will be made possible by high school students moving into the new Madison High School on 12th West this month.  That move will allow the junior high to transfer to a more modern and better-equipped school as soon as renovations are completed.

Madison School District is spending this school year remodeling the building to better accommodate the junior high students. The building was opened in 1973 and has had several additions to it over the years. More than 1,050 students are expected to attend the school when it opens in August 2011. As approved by the School Board, the seventh grade will join the eighth and ninth grade in the new building. This will allow some growth room at the Madison Middle School, which now houses more than 1,100 students. The Middle School will have grades five and six.

Rexburg-based contractor DL Beck was awarded the $2.45 million bid by the school board to complete the renovations. The bid was awarded by the School Board for cost-effectiveness as well as a district desire to keep the money local.

Most of the changes are to allow a larger student population, as well as adapt to the needs of younger students. Some of the changes include an internal renovation of space to allow ten new classrooms. These renovations also will bring the school up to fire and special needs building codes.

 “I’m pleased with the investment the community is making,” said Randy Lords, principal of the junior high. “It’s going to be a big undertaking, and is going to take a lot of help from everyone involved. But this building will be of great service to students—they are the reason for this project.”

Students will continue to attend the current junior high for this year, and will move in at the start of school in August 2011.

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Plant Facilities Levy—Your Money at Work

 

playground

A new playground and fence at Adams Elementary are just one part of the many upgrades that the plant facilities levy provides.

Each year, over $1 million in public funds is used to upgrade and maintain facilities in the Madison School District 321. Expenditures are used for repairs, equipment payments, the purchase of property and other needed facilities updates. These funds are generated from annual-accruing plant facilities levies.

A plant facility levy is a tax assessed on patrons, typically requiring a 60 percent majority vote during a local election. Madison patrons approved a plant facility with in 2005 for $14 million to be used over ten years.

This money is then used for the acquisition and upkeep of district property, including facilities.

“All of our facilities projects are part of the larger vision we have to make sure the students have the best in educational facilities,” he said. “Quality facilities help create an environment for quality education.”

Below are just some of the many facility updates undergone in the past five years:

 

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Income tax credit deductions for donations to increase next year; will help funding for Madison



Starting Jan. 1, 2011, tax credit deductions will increase for donations to public institutions, including public education.

Idaho Sen. Brent Hill, the sponsor of the bill, said in an e-mail that the measure “will temporarily increase the existing income tax credit for donations” to public organizations. The new law, he said, is all in an effort “to help cope with recent budget reductions.”

Currently, tax deductions are limited to 20 percent of the donation to public organizations. Under the new law, deductions will be increased to 50 percent. The annual amount of the tax credit will be raised from $100 to $500—for couples filing on a joint return, the total tax credit could equal up to $1,000.

Sen. Hill further explained in the e-mail that donated funds can be sent to an organization of the donor’s choice.

“Contributions can be designated to go to the school district as a whole, to individual schools, or even to specific programs such as the orchestra or athletics,” he stated. “Donations to the Madison Education Foundation also qualify.”

Sen. Hill believes that significant contributions could be generated from the measure. “A donor who once thought he could only afford to give, say, $100 to the school could now give $400 and not have it cost him much more than the $100 he was willing to give up,” he wrote in the e-mail.

Madison School District will also benefit from the new law.

“The generosity of our patrons is particularly helpful to maintaining important programs for children,” said Dr. Geoffrey Thomas, Superintendent of Madison. “Any and all financial contributions are needed and welcome during this challenging financial period.”

The new law will remain in effect until 2016. Patrons can view the bill itself at http://www.legislature.idaho.gov/legislation/2010/H0630.htm. Click on “Statement of Purpose / Fiscal Note” to read the law’s full implications.

 

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Madison School District Moves into new High School

July 22

REXBURG—Tons and tons of books, furniture and other supplies have been moved into Madison High School.

The move was accomplished mostly by youth from the Rexburg LDS Center Stake who were involved in a service project.

More than 200 youths from the Center Stake participated in the service project. More than 25 truck loads of supplies were moved, along with more than 70 pallets of books and other items.

The youth worked for more than four hours on the grueling task of moving thousands of books, science equipment, chairs, desks, filing cabinets and tons of other school equipment. All of the items had been boxed up or put on pallets by teachers before they left on summer break. Many teachers and the Madison High School football team also showed up to help with the move.

When at the end of the service project there were still five truckloads of heavy items and about 20 pallets of books to move, the school district called for some additional help. First responders from the Madison County Emergency Services volunteered their services to help with the completion. Also, other youth from across the school district, especially the Lyman and Archer areas, responded to the call for additional help and finished up the task. Madison High School football team members, under direction of their new coach Sherm Blaser, pitched in throughout the day to move heavy items and computers.

“It was a monumental effort,” Superintendent Geoffrey M. Thomas says. “The ability of the youth of this community to respond with such enthusiasm is a credit, not only to their parents, but to the many teachers and youth leaders who work with our students.”

The items were moved into the academic areas of the school that are all but finished. Other items were being moved in as the different areas of the building are finished.

The main academic portion of the building is on schedule to be completed by August 25. The auditorium will be finished in late September or early October. A wet spring delayed some of the work on the landscaping portion of the project. Crews are working hard on finishing up the project with some working around the clock.

Work has also begun on the remodeling of the current high school into the new Madison Junior High. Students in grades 7, 8 and 9 will occupy that building when it is finished next summer. The move of the 7th grade to the junior high will allow some breathing room at the current Madison Middle School which now has 1,100 students.

Local contractor D.L. Beck has been awarded the bid.

The 250,000 square foot facility has the capacity to hold 1,400 students.

The contractor for the high school project is Hogan & Associates of Centerville, Utah. JRW of Rexburg is the architect.


The high school is the flagship of a series of buildings the district has been constructing. Two elementary schools, Burton and South Fork, were occupied last year. The final construction phase will be the remodel of the current high school into the junior high.


The new high school features 55 teaching stations and two gymnasiums. It will have an on-site cafeteria. The auditorium will seat 1,200 people.


The new Madison High School has been built with a special emphasis on vocational education, fine arts, and physical education. Yamaha upgraded the sound system free of charge as a demo site so it has the finest sound acoustics of any building in the area.


The gymnasium will seat 2,400 people.


Other facilities such as the football stadium will be finished through a fundraising effort and as funds become available.


Facilities were built with $60 million in local construction bonds, $1 million in bond premiums, and $4 million in interest.


The total is $16 million for two new elementary schools, $45 million for the new high school, $3 million for remodeling of the current high school, and $1 million for technology connections, furniture, security cameras and other essential equipment.


“We are proud of the community’s effort to support education for our students,” Thomas says. “We offer a generous thank you to our taxpayers.”

Madison CARES meeting seeks input of families with mental health needs for $8.9 million grant

March 2010

REXBURG—Madison School District, Sugar-Salem School District and the Madison Community Council were recently awarded an $8.9 million Systems of Care mental health grant. The grant assists families of the community with particular mental health needs, and aims to get all the mental health services in the community to work in unison.

Through the initiative, called Madison CARES, families in need of such services will have streamlined access to all the services available and input to how the grant will be administered.

Madison School District petitioned for the grant to assist families with particular mental health needs, and help children with mental health concerns succeed at home, school and in the community throughout life.

The program is family-guided and child-centered. Under the grant, families and youth work together with public and private organizations to facilitate valuable mental health services and supports. These services recognize the strengths of individuals and families and accommodate for each individual’s cultural and linguistic needs.

Parents and family members of children challenged with mental health concerns will serve on its board, and the community as a whole will have an active voice in administration.

For more information about the meeting, please contact Janet Goodliffe or Megan Riley at the Madison School District Office, 208.359.3300 ext. 3426. For employment opportunities, visit d321.k12.id.us.

For more information about the grant, visit systemsofcare.samhsa.gov.

MHS Construction Update

March 2010

REXBURG—Construction for the new Madison High School remains on schedule for its fall debut, Superintendent Dr. Geoffrey Thomas said. Total building costs remain under-budget.

"Our vision for the new school is rapidly unfolding," he said. "Later this year it will serve as one of the finest educational facilities in the region."

The school has become a landmark for Rexburg, one of the first spectacles visible from the highway driving into and out of the city. It represents a remarkable achievement for Madison School District and will be a hub of community events upon its completion.

The new high school will be able to accommodate a growing school district and serve a variety of interests and educational needs.

Significant painting is underway—the administrative area hallway, upstairs classes, and ceilings of both the library and gymnasium have all been painted.

The brickwork has been laid and is currently undergoing sealing. In addition to electrical wires, 47 miles of Internet fiber wires have been installed.

The new school has significant space for special needs students—a much-needed expansion for a vital public service. The school also includes additional space for family living, consumer science, technology and business classes.

The school has a spacious media center and a large commons area to encourage students to stay on campus during lunchtime. The main gym will be the home for indoor athletic events, but the building also features a separate auxiliary gym for team practices and exhibition games.

Teacher input was essential in auditorium design. Drama, band, orchestra and vocal events will be performed. Each of these different organizations has separate rooms where the students can learn and practice without cross-group interference.

Behind the main school is a separate vocational building for carpentry, welding and auto mechanic work.

Altogether, the facility is able to hold up to 1,400 students and sets on 160 acres of district property. The Board of Trustees and district patrons broke ground for the high school on June 19, 2008.

The new high school is located on 12th West, across from Rexburg Motor Sports.

New MHS on target for June 2010 completion

January 7, 2010

Construction for the new Madison High School is on target for its opening date in the fall of next year, said Russ Wilson, Building Operations Manager for the district. The first scheduled move-in phase for the building is set for June 2010. The transition will take place over the summer.

The building’s masonry is almost finished and sheetrock is currently being installed. Roofing has been placed over the administration area, student commons and classrooms.

Each of these areas has also received drywall and ductwork. Structural steel for the facility is 90 percent complete.

The separate vocational building behind the school has also received substantial work, including the construction of interior walls and roof decking.

The facility is able to hold up to 1,400 students and sets on 160 acres of district property. The Board of Trustees and district patrons broke ground for the high school on June 19, 2008.

The new high school is located on 12th West, across from Rexburg Motor Sports.

Madison 7th grade will move to new junior high in 2011

January 7, 2010

REXBURG — Starting when school opens in the fall of 2011, 7th-graders in Madison School District will have a new home: the new junior high.

The move comes in part from the shifting of schools within the district. High-school students will move to their new location on 12th West starting 2010. Following extensive remodeling, the junior high will then take its place.

With the extra elbow room, the district found that the former MHS building was "better suited" to accommodate the 7th grade in the junior high grade configuration.

There will then be a one-year transition when the 7th grade will remain at the middle school while adjustments and renovations are completed at the new junior high. Those students will move in the following year, 2011.

The discussion of how to most efficiently distribute the grades among the new locations has been on the table for some time. The decision was made by the district in consultation with parents, teachers, principals and the school board.

"We felt that moving the 7th grade into junior high was in the best long-term interest of students," said Superintendent Dr. Geoffrey Thomas.

Another factor in the decision was the overcrowding at the middle school. With only the 5th and 6th grades attending, it will serve as more traditional middle school "transition center" in preparation for secondary school from elementary.

Thomas reported that culturally and educationally, students in grades 5-6 mingle better than they do grades 5-7. Likewise, children in grade 7 seem to fit in better with students grades 8-9.

2011 Madison School District Grade Configurations

Elementary

Grades K-4

Middle School

Grades 5-6

Junior High

Grades 7-9

High School

Grades 10-12

Schwab hired as new assistant principal at high school

August 20, 2009

Travis Schwab learned as a high school counselor that every student is different. In his role, he was able to help both the National Merit Scholars as well as students that were struggling to graduate. The approach, he discovered, has to be tailor-suited to each child.

Principal Rodger Hampton believes he can now apply those learned lessons as "an administrator with a counselor's touch" as Schwab takes on a new role as an assistant principal at Madison High School.

"I plan to remember that every student is an individual and that everyone learns differently," he expressed. "Not one shoe fits all."

Schwab is a Bobcat alumnus, having spent all of his growing up years in Rexburg and graduating from MHS in the mid-'90s. He originally followed his father's footsteps in becoming a physical therapist, but after some self-evaluation decided that he really wanted to work with kids in secondary education. He then took all that he'd learned in health and science classes as a student, and applied them to health education.

He first taught seventh and eighth grade science in Waller and Spring, Texas. His career path took another turn as he discovered a love for working one-on-one with students — his next step was to receive a Master's degree in counseling from Idaho State University.

He was first hired as a counselor at Sugar-Salem High School, and has been in Madison for the past four years.

Now, as a new administrator, he finds himself as a leader in his own former high school, where some of the teachers remember him as a student. Schwab "can't wait" to work with the faculty and staff, and hopes to make a difference with students in this expanded role.

Especially, he believes that everyone working at a school — from the principal to teachers to custodians — are all present with a single mission: making sure that all students have a safe, quality educational experience. Schwab plans to keep an open-door policy to hear from any district patrons who have something to talk about.

"Not a day goes by that I wake up dreading to go to work," he said. "Education for me is a privilege, not a job."

Schwab also has a degree in Educational Administration from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix. He lives with his wife Andrea and their three kids in the Hibbard area of Rexburg.

Bone takes the helm at middle school

August 20, 2009

Michael Bone, former principal of Lincoln Elementary and fifth-year district administrator, has been appointed as the new principal of Madison Middle School. He has replaced former principal Mike Bennett, who is now in charge of district special services.

Bone is excited for his new role in the district, but he is most eager to work with the children. Though he recognizes that his primary responsibility is to instruct students, he confided that they sometimes have a thing or two to teach him.

"I'm always impressed by what the students teach us," he confided.

Bone received an Associate's degree from what was then Rick's College, followed by a bachelor's at Arizona State. His interest in education began by watching his wife Wendy, who was a teacher at Rick's College. He observed how satisfied she seemed to be in her career and wanted the same for himself.

He pursued another degree from Lewis & Clark State College in Elementary Education so he could teach. His career choice, he explained, was worthwhile, and "proved to be a really good thing." He has since earned a master's degree from Idaho State in Educational Administration.

His first teaching job was at the middle school, where he taught sixth grade for a year. He then transferred to Lincoln to teach third and fourth grades before becoming its principal in 2005. He also serves on the board of the Madison Education Foundation.

Bone recognizes that there is an inherent difference in the middle school model from elementary, and plans to "be observant" to "get a good grip on the middle school model" as he starts in his new job. He plans to use this adaptation to improve the faculty's interaction with students and their parents.

Bone and his wife live in Rexburg with their six children, five of whom attend school in the district. He has complete confidence in sending his children to Madison schools — because not only does the district always perform well academically, he believes, but it also creates the right environment for kids to learn social skills.

He assumed his new duties earlier this summer.

Turf delays corrected; Bobcats set to play first game at Viking Stadium

August 20, 2009

REXBURG — Madison School District recently completed the crowning and sod-tightening work on Ferguson Field, which will be ready for the Homecoming Game on Sep. 18. Madison High School will host its first home football game at the BYU-Idaho football field, formerly known as "Viking Stadium." The game will take place on Friday, Aug. 28 at 7 p.m.

Superintendent Geoffrey Thomas apologized for the delay in the completion on the work at Ferguson, but assured that the "silver lining" was in the university's permission to use their facility.

Thomas also recognized that when Viking Stadium was under renovation a few years ago, the district was happy to share their football field with the college. And now, in turn, he acknowledged that "BYU-Idaho is very kind to assist the district while our field is being readied for play."

The district is required to pay only a small fee for custodial and security services for the use of BYU-Idaho Stadium.

Original sod placement was disturbed by frequent rainfall in June, making it virtually impossible to work on Ferguson Field. The district brought in an outside professional for an assessment, and corrective measures have been taken to tighten up the sod and encourage grass growth.

Russ Wilson, the district's Building Operations Manager, assured that Ferguson will be in order for Madison's homecoming game.

Thomas has invited all the community to "fill the stands" at what he believes is one of southeastern Idaho's top football facilities.

The game will be played against Hillcrest High School, the defending football state champions. Madison was the only team to defeat the Knights last year, and Thomas believes it "should be a fun one to watch."

Facility renovations rejuvenate Madison; new MHS on schedule for 2010

August 20, 2009

Summer projects in Madison School District are nearing completion, including the first of three improvement phases at the current Madison High School. Additionally, the two new elementary schools in the district are finished, and the new high school is on schedule for its opening in Aug. 2010.

Dr. Geoffrey Thomas, superintendent at Madison, expressed enthusiasm for the updates. "All of our projects are part of the grand vision we have to make sure the students have the best in educational facilities," he said. "Quality facilities help create an environment for quality education."

Phase I improvements at the current high school include new lockers, a revamped kitchen area, remodeling of faculty restroom into a handicapped-accessible facility, door replacement and improvement of lighting controls to save energy costs.

One of the purposes of the renovations is to prepare the current high school to become the junior high school in the fall of 2010, when high school students will move to the new building on 10th West.

And the new new high school facility is currently "on schedule" for its opening in Aug. of next year. Exterior walls and concrete are ongoing, along with plumbing and electrical installation. The masonry is expected to be finished by Nov. 1.

The second phase will begin next summer, with a third phase scheduled some time after that.

Similar renovations have been underway at Kennedy, Adams and Hibbard Elementary Schools. Russ Wilson, Buildings Operation Manager for the district, reported that most of the work is scheduled for finish before the start of school on Aug. 26.

Both new elementary schools are now complete: Burton Elementary opened in Jan. of this year, with Southfork opening its doors this fall.

Lamb hired as new assistant principal for middle school

August 20, 2009

Darnea Lamb has been hired as the second assistant principal at Madison Middle School. She will be working under the direction of new principal Michael Bone and with assistant principal Steven Gentile, who was hired last year.

Lamb has worked in the district as a special education instructor for seven years, and she has earned a Master's degree in Educational Administration from Idaho State University.

Lamb admits that she never dreamed of being a teacher when she started college at Southern Utah University. But when she took classes in education, the program seemed a "natural fit" for her personality — on top of that, she found great enjoyment in working with kids.

She received a degree in Business Education from SUU, then went on to teach the seventh through twelfth grades for five years in Utah, Wyoming and South Dakota. Her family then moved to Rexburg when her husband accepted a teaching position at BYU-Idaho, and she has since been firmly rooted in the Madison School District.

Taking on her duties this summer has helped Lamb learn the great importance of listening to people. She hopes that in her new role she will be able to listen to parents, patrons, or students that have concerns.

Both her business education background and her special needs experience will influence her leadership. She hopes to introduce business and marketing curriculum at the middle school, to help students take on real-life situations that will be useful to them later in life, as well as ensure early intervention for children in need of special education.

She lives in Burton with her husband. Two of their three children are attending college, and their third child is attending Madison High School.

Community to End Summer With Celebration — August 25, 2009

Free "Celebrate Youth" Event an Annual Tradition for Madison County

Children at Celebrate Youth 2007

Schedule of Events

2pm - 6pm

Youth Carnival

4pm - 6pm

Free Dinner

6pm

Awards and Raffle

6:30pm - 9pm

Music and Dancing

Celebrate Youth is a link between the passing summer and the new school year. An emerging tradition since 2005, the celebration will be held August 25 in Porter Park. The event includes carnival games, food and treats, book distribution and a raffle. All families of the community are welcome to attend the free event.

Event organizer and Madison School District official Janet Goodliffe believes Celebrate Youth is one of the best ways families can end the summer together. "It's a fun, safe way to transition from summer to the school year with your children," she assured.

Activities kick off at 2pm. A program honoring dignitaries will be held at 6pm, along with a presentation of awards and the free raffle, which will give away a new netbook! That will be immediately followed by a youth dance for teenagers until 9pm.

Sponsored by the Madison Community Council, Celebrate Youth will host booths from various community organizations that make up the council, including Madison and Sugar School Districts, Rexburg City, police and sheriff's departments and Madison Memorial Hospital. Each organization will have its own booth display and run the various activities for the children.

Bruce Cook takes the reins at Lincoln Elementary

REXBURG — Bruce Cook comes to the Madison School District with a broad familiarity with the Hispanic culture and the Spanish language — a background he hopes will help communication with parents and students that have English as a second language.

Advancing the ESL program is one of his goals as the new principal of Lincoln Elementary, saying that it's a benefit to have an administrator of a school that can communicate with every family that comes to the school with concerns.

"It's nice that there's no language barrier," Cook said.

Cook was named to the new position this summer, taking over the reins from former principal Michael Bone. He has lived in Rexburg for years and is glad that he has the opportunity to work in the school district that his four daughters attend.

Cook expressed his excitement at assuming leadership at an already "healthy, dynamic school," hoping to "ensure that we are using engaging instruction and best practices."

"Every day I grow more excited," he said, acknowledging already-strong programs and a closely unified staff.

Cook taught high school Spanish at the beginning of his career in education, utilizing language skills he learned growing up in a bicultural home with a mother from Mexico and furthered as an LDS missionary in Argentina.

Though he will be working more closely with Hispanic families, his communication to parents of students will be all-inclusive.

"My first rule of being a principal is to 'always call a parent' when a student comes into the principal's office," he said, asserting his belief that his first responsibility as a principal is the safety of the students.

Cook has nine years of experience as an administrator in southeastern Idaho and for the past four years has served as the principal at Dora Erickson Elementary in Idaho Falls. Previous to that, he taught high school Spanish in the Bonneville School District and in Montana.

He received an associates degree from Rick's College and his bachelor's and master's degrees from Idaho State University.

Assistant principal Lords now head principal of junior high

REXBURG — Administrator Randy Lords has been named the new principal of Madison Junior High, assuming his duties effective this summer. Lords has been working as the assistant principal at the school for two years.

He assumes the office at a critical time for the district, as the junior high prepares to move to its new location at the current high school starting in Aug. 2010. Lords has already been engaged in preparations for the change, talking with the community and making sure all the right facility adjustments are made to accommodate the students.

"I want to involve the community as much as possible," he said, indicating that when current renovations are complete that the public will have an opportunity to tour the building and see the changes. Lords is also orchestrating a number of Eagle Scout projects to aid the changes.

Lords admits that Madison School District has "brought him up" professionally, as he has spent most of his professional career in Rexburg. Before coming to the junior high, he taught American government and history at the high school for four years, which he followed-up by a three-year tenure as assistant principal.

The first-time principal is excited to be a part of his children's education — he has five children in the district. His oldest daughter had fallen behind academically in a previous school district his family attended, and district officials had recommended that she enroll in some special education programs. But when the family moved to Rexburg, she started performing at her grade level or above.

That's the kind of quality education that Lords believes Madison offers.

Lords believes that communication with parents is key to an effective school. He has implemented an open-door policy at the junior high, pledging to "not let a day go by without contacting parents."

"If parents have questions or concerns, I'll listen and we'll do what's best for the student," he assured.

Lords completed coursework at both Utah State University and Idaho State University, where he received his degree. He has also been assigned to be in charge of school safety for the district.

New school board member Anderson wants to 'give back' to his children's district

REXBURG — Tim Anderson has five children in Madison School District — one in every level of school. Running as a school board member helped fulfill his desire to return a contribution to the district that has taught his children.

"My family has always felt strongly about public education," he said. "I thought it was time to give back."

Anderson was elected to the five-member school board from Trustee Zone #2 after an election held on May 19. His four-year tenure will begin when he is sworn-in during the school board meeting in July. His term comes at a time of significant facility changes for the district, including the construction of a new high school.

Anderson believes that his most important responsibility is to protect the integrity of the school district, mostly by keeping patrons aware of the issues. He plans to ensure this by improving communication with patrons and help them become more informed and involved, especially in making them aware of decisions that the school board is making.

He plans to send out a monthly e-mail to let interested patrons know what's on the board's agenda and, he hopes, to solicit feedback.

Anderson has been a branch owner of accounting firm Rudd & Co. for 16 years, living with his wife and children in Rexburg. He received a bachelor's degree from Idaho State University and a Master's Degree from Brigham Young University.

MSD Construction Projects Underway

Three New Schools and Extensive Renovation Define Busy Summer for District

Madison School District officials will be flying to San Francisco next week to meet with bonding agents for the sale of the $19.5 million bond voters passed June 5. The bond will fund the remainder of the project cost for the construction of the new Madison High School and two new elementary schools.

Unlike its students, Madison School District doesn't get the summer off. In addition to constructing the three new buildings, the district is undertaking $500,000 worth of plant facility renovations — a necessary workload for a progressing district.

"The children of the district will benefit from these new schools for decades to come," Superintendent Geoffrey M. Thomas commented in his July administrative message. He added that the district has "aggressively moved forward with construction."

The new high school is still undergoing groundwork since the project began last month — cement for the foundation was poured last weekend. The facility, able to hold up to 1,400 students, will open starting fall 2010. The Board of Trustees and district patrons broke ground for the high school on June 19.

Twin elementary schools Burton and Archer-Lyman are expected for completion later this year, with an anticipated capacity of 400 each.

Burton Elementary is the first school scheduled for completion, with a target date in October. Archer and Lyman Elementary schools, currently operating separately, will be unified in their new facility, Archer-Lyman, in December.

Renovations this summer, paid for by plant facility funds, include new asphalt for three schools, improved fencing, high school gymnasium safety repairs and a new playground for Adams Elementary. Similar projects are underway throughout the summer.