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Three school expansion projects move ahead
Posted by: Steve Brandt under People and neighborhoods, Politics and government Updated: July 11, 2012 - 1:11 PM
Howe school Staff photos by Steve Brandt
The board Tuesday night approved three contracts for building projects designed to accommodate enrollment in parts of the South Side. All three projects are scheduled to be completed for the 2013-2014 school year.
An $11.2 million contract was approved with Black/Dew of North St. Paul to add space at the Keewaydin school building. The addition includes classroom for 180 students, and a theater, gym and cafeteria. The school at 5209 30th Av. S. is one of two campuses that form Lake Nokomis Community School.
Also approved was a $7.8 million contract with Merrimac Construction of Cedar for new classrooms for another 125 students and a new cafeteria at Lake Harriet Community School. The expansion will occur at the school’s lower-grades campus in the former Audubon school building at 4030 Chowen Av. S.
Miller Dunwiddie Architecture of Minneapolis won a $593,327 contract for the planned reopening of Howe school at 3733 43rd Av. S. The work will renovate the roof, windows, brickwork, mechanical systems, playground, kitchen and other features. The school was built in 1927 and closed in 2005.
The projects to handle a larger student body were authorized last year after enrollment rose by 330 students, the first increase in a decade, and the district since has retained more of its enrollment through the school year than normal, according to budget officials. Another enrollment increase is projected for this fall. The board earlier approved reopening the former Folwell Middle School, 3611 20th Av. S. as a kindergarten-8th fine arts magnet school that will host the student body formerly at Ramsey, 1 W. 49th St., which is converteing to a middle school.
As for 807 Broadway, the board noted its departure from its current meeting place, a drab meeting room brightened by self-portraits by some of the district’s students. Meetings will move to the district's new headquarters at 1250 W. Broadway Av. But officials haven’t yet decided whether the board’s next meeting on Aug. 14 will be held there or at an alternate site.
Activist David DeGrio, teacher union President Lynn Nordgren and board member Richard Mammen conversed after the last board meeting at 807 Broadway
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