ISD 197 Construction Is Way More Than the Stadium

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The new Warrior Field opened at Sibley High School in Mendota Heights to plenty of acclaim—and a few sour grapes. But while the new stadium gets all the attention, it’s only a tiny fraction of the bond referendum voters passed in 2018.

Of the $117 million referendum, only $5.2 million—4.4%—went to the stadium.

The rest? Here’s a quick overview of what the bond will pay for:

• Building and mechanical maintenance.
• Modernize outdated classrooms and educational spaces.
• Improve fine arts and athletics spaces.
• Address handicapped accessibility and parking lot safety.

Ongoing Construction

The construction work is being done in phases, with Garlough, Moreland, Pilot Knob, Friendly Hills, and Sibley all seeing work in the past year. Garlough, Moreland, and Pilot Knob are nearly done, with ongoing work at Friendly Hills and Sibley. Heritage, Mendota, and Somerset will all see work begin next year.

Work on the new aquatic center at Sibley actually started this week.

You can also see the work for yourself with construction open houses:

• Moreland: Thursday, Sept. 26, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
• Pilot Knob: Tuesday, Oct. 1, 5-6 p.m.
• Garlough: Thursday, Oct. 3, 4-6 p.m.

Project Specifics

Let’s go into excessive detail to see where the other 95.6% of the bond is going.

Garlough Environmental Magnet School

Academic and Program Improvements

• Sitework: Separate bus and parent drop-off.
• Handicapped accessibility improvements.
• Right-sizing of kindergarten classrooms to meet guidelines.
• Create first and second grade additions, renovations, and collaboration space.
• Create third and fourth grade additions, renovations, and collaboration space.
• Addition of conference room and staff and visitor restroom at entry.
• Addition/renovation to improve kitchen and serving area.

Building Maintenance Improvements

• Site improvements include drainage, landscape, concrete walks, and paving.
• Exterior improvements include roofing, tuck pointing, sealants, and roof access.
• Interior finishes include doors, toilet partitions, stage access, and gym equipment.
• Mechanical improvements include plumbing upgrades.
• Electrical improvements include lighting, public address system, and fire alarm system.

Mendota Elementary School

Academic and Program Improvements

• Right-size kindergarten classrooms to meet state guidelines.
• Handicapped accessibility improvements.
• Build additions for grades one through four classrooms and renovate existing space for collaboration/small-group commons.
• Addition of staff and visitor bathrooms.
• Lab renovations.

Building Maintenance Improvements

• Site improvements include concrete walks and paving.
• Exterior improvements include roofing, tuck pointing, and sealants.
• Interior finishes include flooring, stage partition, and gym equipment.
• Electrical improvements include lighting.

Moreland Arts and Health Sciences School

Academic and Program Improvements

• Handicapped accessibility improvements.
• Right-sizing of kindergarten classrooms to meet guidelines.
• Create first and second grade renovations and collaboration space.
• Create third and fourth grade additions, renovations, and collaboration space.
• Renovations of family and visitor gathering space.
• Addition of cafeteria and renovation of kitchen and serving area.
• Specialist and meeting space renovations.

Building Maintenance Improvements

• Site improvements include concrete walks and landscaping.
• Exterior improvements include tuck pointing, sealants, door hardware, and painting.
• Interior finishes include doors, gym flooring, and gym equipment.
• Mechanical improvements include restroom upgrades and domestic water heating.
• Electrical improvements include lighting, public address system, and fire alarm system.

Pilot Knob STEM Magnet School

Academic and Program Improvements

• Sitework: Separate bus and parent drop-off.
• Handicapped accessibility improvements.
• Right-sizing of kindergarten classrooms to meet guidelines.
• Addition to right-size pre-k classrooms to meet guidelines.
• Create first and second grade additions, renovations, and collaboration space.
• Create third and fourth grade renovations and collaboration space.
• Music, art, and STEM room renovations.
• Improved access to media center.

Building Maintenance Improvements

• Site improvements include concrete walks and paving.
• Exterior improvements include tuckpointing, sealants, painting, and door hardware.
• Interior finishes include flooring, lockers, stage partition and gym equipment.
• Electrical improvements include lighting, public address system, and fire alarm system.

Somerset Elementary School

Academic and Program Improvements

• Sitework includes separating bus and parent drop-off/pick-up.
• Handicapped accessibility improvements.
• Right-sized kindergarten classrooms to meet state guidelines.
• Create collaboration/small-group commons for grades one and two.
• Two-story addition for classrooms and collaboration space.
• Renovation to provide handicapped access to 1936 structure. 
• Creation of dedicated gymnasium space.
• Renovations to improve kitchen and serving area.
• Repurpose space for lab.

Building Maintenance Improvements

• Site improvements include drainage, concrete and retaining wall.
• Exterior improvements include tuck pointing, sealants and painting.
• Interior finishes include doors, lockers, flooring, and gym equipment.
• Electrical improvements include lighting, public address system, and fire alarm system.

Friendly Hills Middle School

Academic and Program Improvements

• Sitework: Separate bus and parent drop-off/pick-up entrance.
• Cafeteria handicapped accessibility improvements and removal of stage.
• Commons areas access improvements and re-work.
• Music area improvements.
• Media productions lab renovations.
• Meeting space renovation.
• Adaptive physical education space addition.
• Addition/renovation of relocated performance/multi-purpose space.

Building Maintenance Improvements

• Site improvements include drainage, landscape, concrete walks, and basketball court repair.
• Exterior improvements include tuck pointing, sealants, soffit venting and door hardware.
• Interior finishes include locker room lockers, elevator improvements, flooring, and gym equipment.
• Mechanical improvements include boiler and chiller plants, piping, and ventilation improvements.
• Electrical improvements include lighting and public address system.

Heritage E-STEM Magnet School

Academic and Program Improvements

• Cafeteria handicapped accessibility improvements and removal of stage.
• Commons area access improvements and renovations.
• Music area improvements.
• Media production lab renovations.
• Meeting space renovation.
• Addition/renovation of relocated performance/multi-purpose space with stage.

Building Maintenance Improvements

• Site improvements include landscape, concrete walks, and fencing.
• Exterior improvements include tuck pointing, sealants, soffit venting, and door hardware.
• Interior finishes include doors, locker room lockers, elevator improvements, flooring and  gym equipment.
• Mechanical improvements include boiler and chiller plants, piping, and ventilation.
• Electrical improvements include lighting and public address system.

Henry Sibley High School

Academic and Program Improvements

• Site improvements include a multipurpose athletic facility with a new multi-sport turf field and track, baseball and softball dugouts, concessions, ticket booth, scoreboard, bleachers,  and drainage improvements.
• Performing arts/music improvements to meet guidelines.
• Auditorium enhancements.
• New swimming pool (replaces pool at Heritage).
• Locker room renovations.
• Science renovations and improvements to meet guidelines.
• Commons areas and access improvements.
• Modernization of art, family and consumer science, shop, and labs to create career and  technical education spaces.
• Creation of small group break-out spaces.
• Repurposing of existing meeting space.
• Improvements to exterior entry for handicapped access and plaza.
• Renovations at school store, café, and collaboration space.
• Multipurpose expansion for health and fitness.
• Specialist/office space renovations and expansions.

Building Maintenance Improvements

• Site improvements include parking lots, landscape, concrete walks, drainage, and fencing.
• Exterior improvements include tuck pointing, sealants, and painting.
• Interior finishes include lockers, doors, elevator improvements, flooring, and gym flooring  and equipment.
• Mechanical improvements include piping, equipment improvements, plumbing upgrades, and ventilation improvements.
• Electrical improvements include lighting and public address system.

Your Tax Dollars at Work

Whew, that’s a lot of work. ISD 197 is seeing some major improvements and it should be clear your tax dollars are paying for a lot more than a stadium.

You can get more construction updates from ISD 197.