Crew plans to erect new stadium this week

CPS Superintendent Janelle Helm informed the school board Tuesday that the installation crew for the new stadium was reportedly delayed due to weather.

A replacement crew is slated to arrive today (Monday, August 15).

“That stadium will be done and ready to go by our first game,” Helm said she was assured by project manager Tim Tobin.

President Joel Lemer inquired about the lighting and the PA system, noting that electrical work was yet to be done once the stadium is in place.

The total raised for the new stadium is $481,500, according to Business Manager Kimary Edland. There is $61,000 not allocated from the funds raised for the project.

With that information, board members reviewed quotes from Daktronics for a new sound system and from Dakota Fence for fencing at the new stadium.

Helm said fans have expressed concerns about feedback from the current PA system, and some patrons are not able to hear the announcer at games and meets.

She explained that the Daktronics representative offered two systems for consideration. With the more robust system of the two, priced at over $39,000, he promised “no feedback.”

“We will have feedback, 100 percent yes,” with the $20,000 alternative system, Helm noted. If they chose the less expensive system, the speakers would be mounted higher, above the press box, to minimize feedback. The result would be a system that’s louder at the top of stands, and quieter elsewhere.

Both quotes include installation and a one-year warranty.

“If we’re going to do it right, this is the system that’s built for the capacity, that we need,” Helm said of the $39,000 system.

Lemer brought up cost again. “We need to stay within (the $481,500 budget), as we did not budget anything for this project,” Lemer added.

The fence quote came in at $15,000, but could fluctuate once the structure is in place.

“I’m all for the speaker system,” Lemer said. “It’s the community’s money.”

If the board chose to accept both the more expensive sound system and the fencing quote, only $6,671 would remain for electrical, lighting and a donation sign.

The board ultimately approved the purchase of the $39,000 sound system, with one dissenter.

“I think $40,000 is ridiculous,” Tonia Erickson said, and voted against the more expensive system. She cited budget concerns.

As for the fence quote, “I think it’s hard to approve a bid when we don’t have a structure up,” member Randy Hooey said.

Board members also discussed purchasing fencing supplies and having someone else install it.

Ultimately they decided to hold off on the fence until the rest of the stadium is finished. They will work to get it in place in time for track season.

The countdown to the first day of the 2022-23 school year is on, and the staff and administration are making final preparations. The school board will host its annual lunch with the staff on Wednesday, May 17 at noon. The Community Picnic and Ice Cream Social will be held Thursday, Aug. 18 from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. The first day of school is Aug. 24.

The other major order of business before the board Tuesday was the 2023 budget. Finance Committee chair Kevin Wolsky walked the board through recent adjustments the committee had made. On the revenue side, the foundation aid projection was “on the money,” he noted. They did, however, adjust the general property tax total down to reflect the reality that there were more tax delinquencies than usual. The result is less tax collected for the school district.

The district received its first foundation aid payment for the 2022-23 school year on Aug. 1, and it was more than projected due to the enrollment increase from last year.

Notable line item increases in the preliminary budget include the cost of electricity, up to $100,00 per year from $85,000.

Board members discussed transportation and bus routes. The budget for fuel went up 50 percent, from $67,000 to $100,000.

Although there is reportedly congestion on school buses with in-town stops, Wolsky noted that after reviewing the average daily ridership, “we aren’t even close” to full.

The district will seek bids for a new activity bus in December/January, and they increased the budget line item for that purchase from $557,000 to $613,920.

The preliminary budget for 2022-23 ultimately approved by the board reflects $7,552,000 in total revenue and $7,513,000 expenses. A $40,000 budget surplus is projected

The next meeting, which includes the 2023 budget hearing, will be held Tuesday, September 13 at 4:00 p.m.