Preschool Numbers Rebounded after Last Year's Low
- 6 hours ago
- 2 min read
by Trinity Gruenberg
The Verndale School Board held their regular meeting on July 6.
Playground Construction Update
School Board Member Chris Youngbauer gave an update on the new playground. The old playground equipment and mulch have been removed, leaving only the anchor points for the previous basketball hoops, which will be removed using an excavator. Clean sand has been brought in to form the subgrade, with plans to place fabric over it and then add a six-inch rock layer as the base for the new playground surface.
The main challenge is the natural slope of the site, dropping roughly two to two and a half feet from one end to the other, complicating the creation of a flat play surface. The aim is to build a level area for the new carousel while maintaining a slight slope for proper drainage and adhering to ADA accessibility standards.
The new equipment will be installed on concrete footings with metal posts bolted to the top. The largest structure will need about 15 footings, each with specific measurements and elevations, requiring a full cement truck load for the main piece. Additionally, there is old concrete to dispose of from previous attempts to save sections of the former pads.
Most new materials are on site but stored off-campus, stacked at Youngbauer’s shop. Installation instructions for the largest piece have been received, but the district is still waiting for instructions for the carousel and a smaller unit to determine exact footing locations.
Youngbauer plans to return to the site this weekend to level the sand already placed. The rock layer will be installed after the concrete footings are in place.
The district received a $45,000 check from the Legacy Foundation on June 30, and fundraising efforts continue. Project costs are estimated to be roughly double if an outside company were hired, as local helpers are managing demolition and site preparation...
