Esko board makes plans for new flexible learning center

Now that the new Esko school fitness center is nearing completion, school district officials are focusing on another big question: What to do with the 3,800 square feet occupied by the current fitness center?

Create a flexible learning center, offered superintendent Aaron Fischer.

He likened it to a commons area, a modern open space where students could go study for College in the Schools (CITS) classes at Esko, or even post secondary education option (PSEO) classes they're taking away from the school. It would be a comfortable space, with talking allowed and coffee and other drinks available. It will likely include several glassed-in conference rooms for small-group work.

The superintendent hopes creating that space will give some students reason to choose CITS over PSEO, which also would keep more student-related revenue in Esko.

"If kids leave here because they like the flexibility of PSEO, that's fine, but I offer 70 credits to college in the schools," Fischer told the Pine Knot. "So, I'd like to try to match that flexibility for my consumers."

Board members voted unanimously Monday to fast-track the flexible learning center project, starting with a steering committee forming this week to provide feedback on what should be included in the design. That committee will be made up of school administrators, four teachers and up to four students. They need to get started now in order to get plans drawn up by February, Fischer said, adding that getting through the state's review and comment period is more difficult and time consuming after a change in protocol.

"If we want to rock and roll this for any chance for the summer, you kind of need to get your designers on board ASAP," he said. "Otherwise you're gonna put it back in the fall or next summer."

Costs for the redesign and remodel were estimated by ICS consultant Natalie Hoff at nearly $740,000, not including furnishings, fixtures and equipment. It's money the district can afford, Fischer said, and the flexible learning center was just below the fitness center on the facility priority list.

"There's not a modern school built that doesn't have a large commons area. We can't replicate that with less than $3 or $4 million, but we can do it the Esko way: something nice and comfortable within a smaller budget," Fischer said.

Construction on the new fitness center - located on the south side of the school - should be completed in January. After that will come furniture and equipment, which likely won't arrive for at least three months. ICS, based in Duluth and headquartered in Minneapolis, is also the construction manager on the fitness center.

Fischer said they have a good idea of equipment costs, but they are waiting to finalize a partner deal before making any final decisions on furnishing the fitness center.

"If it's Essentia or a medical facility, they're going to want to use some of the space for physical therapy and stuff and want some equipment," he said. "If it's signage and naming rights for a bank or a store ... they wouldn't have any equipment needs."

Levy increase 5.1 percent

Only one resident attended Esko's Truth in Taxation meeting Monday, held a half-hour before the regular board meeting. After sitting through a brief presentation by superintendent Aaron Fischer, John Luomala had only positive things to say.

"You're doing a fantastic job educating the kids well," he told the board and administration. "It's still a rural, quiet community, like it should be."

During the flexible learning center discussion, board chair Jerry Frederick said they got positive feedback from community members at past truth-in-taxation hearings regarding how well the district has taken care of its school building.

"It's got good bones to it," Frederick said. "The things we've done [to update] and the upkeep have really paid off in the long run. We're not building another $40 million school or whatever it would cost to replace this."

On Monday, Esko school board members approved a total budget of nearly $19.6 million and a total tax levy payable in 2024 of more than $2.35 million, an increase of 5.13 percent from last year. The local tax levy makes up 12.5 percent of district revenues, with the other $15.8 million coming mostly from state funds (76 percent), other local aid (8.8 percent) and federal funds (2.8 percent).

The Esko school budget shows a deficit of $1.4 million, because expenditures add up to more than revenues. That's because the funds to pay for some of those expenditures already exist: it's money waiting to be spent but won't be counted as revenue in 2024.

"It's more of a timing issue than anything," Fischer said.

Salaries and benefits make up 67 percent of district expenses, followed by capital expenditures (14 percent), and purchased services plus supplies and materials at 7 percent each.

Fischer said the biggest factor in the higher tax levy was the new fitness center, because the district will begin to pay down the lease levy for the added facility in 2024.

Esko has no voter-approved levies for its taxes, only board approved. Fischer ticked off the levies currently in play, including the purchase of the former RAM building (which houses community ed, preschool and the Cool Kids program), abatement bonds for the parking lots, and "the tail end" of a levy the board passed to pay for asbestos removal and replacing the HVAC system.

When the HVAC levy is paid off in two or three years, taxes could go down.