The GFW School Board held a regular meeting on Monday, September 23, 2024. A summary of the meeting is below.
Watch the meeting on YouTube:
School and Community Recognition
Dr. Smith and the board recognized all of the new staff who have joined the district this school year. GFW is fortunate to have many new teachers serving our students and we are grateful for everything they do!
Superintendent’s Report
Dr. Smith shared that the school year has been off to a great start. It is Homecoming week this week with students enjoying activities. He also recognized the school board members for their service to the community as part of school board recognition month.
Principal Reports
Principal Thompson shared that the students have been loving the nice weather. YouthWorks came to the school and shared some professional development and staff have shared that it was the best professional development they have attended. Students are enjoying activities and looking forward to the homecoming pep fest. The T-Bird Way will be celebrating local heroes with custodial and maintenance staff as well as holding the first T-Bird Way assembly of the year.
T-Bird Community Arts will be hosting a Jesters comedy show on October 26 at 7 p.m. at Tanker Bay Sports Bar in Winthrop. Tickets are available at the door.
School Board Reports
Board members shared brief updates from committees.
Facility Project Update
Representatives from Kraus Anderson and Wold Architects shared updates on the facilities project of the new PreK-12 school currently under construction. There have been some delays with both permitting and with weather challenges. Approval of the plumbing permit was delayed due to an extended review time at the state level which has impacted many construction projects across the state. An additional challenge is the fact that since May 2024, there have been a total of 39 rain days that have caused a need to refocus the timeline of the project.
The team worked with Dr. Smith to prioritize the areas and items within the school. There are still areas of the project that are projected to be online and ready on time, with other areas being phased in after that. Some parts of the facility are projected to be completed by winter break of 2025, while others like the performing arts center would be completed in the spring of 2026. The elementary school wing was identified as the first to be online because of the fact that it is self contained. At this time it is projected that the kitchen would not be ready at the opening of school, so meal prep would happen at existing facilities and have meals delivered for part of the 2025-26 school year.
Winter break was identified as a feasible time frame for additional sections of the school being ready to allow for additional time to move into the building. Dr. Smith also shared that the athletic facilities will also be on an adjusted schedule with the football stadium projected to be ready for the football season with the use of existing facilities for locker rooms along with providing portable bathrooms and concessions being utilized. The gymnasium will be ready in a later phase so volleyball and early season basketball will be held at the current high school in Winthrop. The elementary school playground is also anticipated to be completed by the fall of 2025.
Dr. Smith shared that this is still a conservative schedule but that additional challenges could arise. The team will be preparing frequently asked questions and updates to answer additional questions that may come up in the community and the district will continue to communicate updates.
The board also heard about a change order for a fire pump component because the cost is above the threshold of $50,000.
Consent Agenda, Resolutions and Action Items
The board approved the consent agenda.
The board approved a resolution to accept donations.
The board approved the proposed levy for 2025 at the maximum with a 2.2% increase at this time.
The board approved the slate of logos for the upcoming logo change to the Firebirds as of July of 2025.
The board approved the fire pump change order request for a maximum of $57,300