Board buttons up bus garage project

The Esko school board was given an update on the bus garage and athletic field parking lot projects at its Monday, Nov. 23 meeting. Project manager ICS reported the two projects are essentially complete, with the new bus garage ready to open at its new location next to the Esko Business Park. The old garage was demolished to make room for the Esko athletic field parking lot project, which included stabilizing the ground and paving a large lot. The projects came in $60,000 under the $2.23 million budget until the state required an additional bathroom, and a few other minor changes were made, with the project ending up at $2.251 million.

In other business, the board approved superintendent Aaron Fischer's recommendation to keep the schools in distance-learning through Dec. 22 with another evaluation, using fresh data, at its Dec. 21 meeting. "Some schools are distance learning through Jan. 19, but I think we are wise to evaluate new data on Dec. 21 rather than try to guess now," he said.

Elementary principal Brian Harker commented on the virtual conferences this past week, saying the format worked well. "I miss seeing the families come through the door, and the book fair and all the activity, but it went well with few hiccups, " he said.

The board accepted the retirement of long-time administrative assistant Kris Krocka, adding a note of thanks for her many years of service.

Superintendent Fischer explained the odd circumstances that forced the cancellation of school earlier this week despite distance learning in place.

"We had a water main malfunction, and even though students are at home, so many people like teachers, food service, daycare (and others) are in the building, I just couldn't have them in here without bathroom facilities," he told the board.