2003 December Newsletter - Laserfiche WebLink

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New School:Continued from Page 1 nity events,and making phone calls to likely vot- ty." Haas adds, "Most important is what this tells ers. "We knew that Hugo could make or break our kids. It says that they matter—that their edu- this," Lacher explains. "Certainly there were ben- cation is important to us." efits to the whole district,but we knew the biggest stakeholders in this were people in Hugo. Next Steps OUR That's why we worked so hard to make sure that The school board met on November 24 to put THAT THEIR Hugo residents were informed and to build excite- together a steering committee for each project,as ment about a new school." well as a naming committee to determine a name EDUCATION IS for the new school and the existing Hugo A Collaborative Effort Elementary. These committees will be led by IMPORTANT Plans for the new Hugo elementary school have school board members and will include appropri- been underway for almost two years in a coopera- ate members of the district administration and tive effort between the City,the school district, community members. Community input will be local developers Len Pratt and Jim Peterson,and encouraged,and plans are already underway for other interested residents and groups. The City of public forums to be held to actively solicit citizen Hugo agreed to donate to the school district 30 input about grade configuration for the two acres of land and provide infrastructure improve- schools. The school district's goal is to obtain ments for the school site—a package worth$2.5 construction bids by late spring of 2004 and to million. break ground by early fall. "This is the first time in all the years that I've Once the new school is open in the fall of 2006, served on the City Council that we have worked renovations will begin on the existing Hugo so collaboratively with the school district," states Elementary School. It is expected to be able to Hugo Mayor Fran Miron. "The governing body reopen in the fall of 2008 without the portable of a city isn't necessarily responsible for educa- classrooms and with a capacity of 500 students. tion or planning for schools,but I think it makes Blaesing notes, "The new building is going to be sense-because of the quality of life that schools quite nice,but when we have renovated the exist' provide in an area. I'm really pleased that we ing building,you're going to see a very impres- started an initiative such as this." Susan Brott sive school." adds, "It's been a great partnership. The school board has said numerous times how much they appreciated and enjoyed working with the Hugo city administration,the Council, and the Mayor." Impact For Hugo New Winter "I think the new school is going to have a mayor impact on the quality of life here in Hugo," states Mayor Miron. Chuck Haas believes the new Parking school will provide a great economic benefit to the City. "Good schools are important," he notes. r '�a n "The interest in our community to locate busi ce nesses and homes will be enhanced." Susan Brott agrees, saying, "Having the new school in Hugo Earlier this year,the Hugo City Council will draw people into the community. Having a adopted a new parking ordinance for the win- referendum pass shows community support for public education,and that's the kind of communi- ter season. From November 1 through March ty people want to raise their kids in." 31,no parking is allowed on any street in the Having a second elementary school in Hugo will City between the hours of 2 a.m. and 7 a.m. help alleviate the overcrowding in the existing school and avoid further busing and shifting of Outside of those dates,the same restrictions attendance boundaries. "It's best for students if apply if there is a snow accumulation of 2 they can learn in a neighborhood school," Brott pp y states. Pauline Lacher notes, "Having a neighbor- inches or more. hood school is important for building communi- i