GRANITE FALLS Even with a new air conditioning system, teachers at Bert Raney Elementary were working up a sweat Monday as they unpacked a seemingly endless supply of boxes into empty classrooms with only a week to go before students returned to the classrooms.
Everything had to be moved out of the school earlier this summer in preparation for a construction project aimed at improving the school's air handling units and lighting. Dropped ceilings were installed to provide needed space for ductwork, new energy-efficient lighting was installed, heat systems were upgraded and a fresh coat of paint was put on just about every wall. The construction is part of an estimated $8.5 million health and safety improvement project under way in the Yellow Medicine East School District.
Now, with only one week before classes begin, the 15 semi-trucks that provided temporary storage for the school's furniture have been unloaded and staff and volunteers are hurriedly preparing rooms for the first day.
"We are in a better place than we were a couple days ago," Principal Jodi Kennedy said. "Our custodial staff has put in extra hours and we have had tons of volunteers in the last week."
Kennedy, in her first year as the school's principal, said she has been amazed at the community turnout to help get the school ready in time. During the last week community members, teachers, and summer sports teams turned out to move equipment back into the school.
"They've been working their butts of on their own time. They want the right learning environment to be presentable when the students arrive," Kennedy said. "That tells me a lot about my staff; I feel very fortunate."
Classrooms are in various stages of organization with some fully unpacked and organized and others mostly empty with a mountain of boxes in the center waiting to be organized. It's a daunting task facing teachers returning to their classrooms after the long summer off.
"I counted 80 boxes I had to unpack," sixth-grade teacher Linda Richter said. "It scared me. I walked in circles wondering where to start."
Though the construction has created more work for returning teachers, most did not hesitate to trumpet the improved atmosphere in the classrooms. In part, the construction project was approved by the school board after a study showed the school was plagued with poor lighting and inadequate air circulation.
"It was very stagnant air that didn't circulate," music teacher Beth Jahn said. "I actually had some music teachers from Montevideo come and say, 'how can you stand to work in here??We can't breathe.'"
As part of the construction a new dehumidification and exhaust system was installed, which is expected to improve air quality and energy efficiency in the building.
"It was wonderful, great air to breath," Richter said.
Still others contend that the lighting is the most notable improvement to the aging school. Richter said she noticed how much brighter the school seemed as soon as she walked in the door.
"You can see very corner is lit. Before we had these fluorescents down the middle and it was dark on the sides," She said. "Now it's like everything has come alive."
Superintendent Allen Stoeckman was on-hand to help Monday as teachers organized their rooms. He said teachers are working tirelessly to ensure that the school is ready when students return next Tuesday and are eager to teach in the new environment.
"They're commenting about how comfortable the building is," Stoeckman said. That's rewarding to see how staff are excited about the coming year."
