Local News

Wednesday, February 27, 2008 Once in a Blue Moon by Ray Benning It's going to be a busy week. The state wrestling tournament is Wednesday through Friday, the girls basketball section tournament starts on Tuesday and the boys are finishing their regular season this week. Good luck to all the area teams. We all should try to find some time to get out and support them. Last week I mentioned The Eagle Valley school district building project. In doing a little research around the state I found other schools dealing with some of the same issues. In the Iron Range, the Mountain Iron-Buhl school district is having a study done on whether to fix their school or build new. Their study, being done by Architectural Resources, advised them that when costs start to reach 60 percent of its replacement cost that experts may recommend a new facility. Aging buildings and energy inefficiency are issues many school districts in the state are trying to address. This is why I believe we should have an architect helping with the planning process. We need someone innovative and with experience in school projects. I think we need to look at our project as something fun and a way to make a change for the better for years to come. To do this we need an architect to lead us. Architects who specialize in school design are becoming increasingly savvy about best practices in education and provide designs that break the mold of the "big box" schools most American children still attend. Let's make our school an inviting campus and include laptop computers for all high school students in this change and give our students the technological edge. This will retain and more than likely increase enrollment. Last week I said I would provide a list of pros and cons of the project options. So here goes. This includes comments I have heard on the three different options of getting into one building. 1. Converting Eagle Valley Elementary to Pre-K through 12.  Pros It would cost the taxpayers the least if going to go into one building for Pre-K through 12. Handicap accessible (all classrooms would be on one level). Newer building than Eagle Bend. Cons Not enough parking Football field is in Eagle Bend. 2. Converting Eagle Valley High School to Pre-K through 12.  Pros Near the football field. Cons Expensive to remodel an old building. Estimate does not include any new windows or anything done with the exterior of the building other than the roof. There would be extra money spent on upkeep for the elevator that would need to be installed. The elementary students would be forced to use the stairs to get around. This could be a safety issue. Even after remodeling it would still be an old structure. Classes would either have to be taught offsite or crammed into half the building and work through the noise of the construction for at least a year. When adding a gym you would lose some of the parking lot. 3. Building a new Pre-K through 12 school.  Pros Brand new structure. Statistics show you keep or gain more students when you build a new building. Cons The most expensive. Cost does not include land, sewer, water, parking lots or ball fields. Again, these are the pros and cons I have heard or see from my perspective. If you have more to add, please go to our website at www.inhnews.com and add a comment for us to include on the list.

Comment on this article

Comments

Ray,
I think maybe some of the points you refer to in your editorial, may be a little one sided, and i understand everyone has the right to an opinion. I feel these little tidbits may just seperate the towns, on an issue that is very important and tempermental at this stage of the process. Yes in all honesty we do need to do something but we should not be pointing negativity towards one location or another, we should be working together towards a common and efficient goal. Just FYI as a reader, taxpayer,parent and grandparent of present and future EV students. You may find out and will hear many comments on this article as I have, and not all are good. I respect very much the investigative work you have done, but feel your article was a bit to premature.
 
Steve