Abbotsford introduces potential plans for future school improvement project

The Abbotsford School District announced preliminary ideas for a school-wide improvement project which would allow the school to meet rising enrollment numbers. The project, which was roughly estimated not to exceed $18 million, would be funded by a referendum that would take the place of debt from the 2009 and 2022 referendum debt that would be falling off in 2024.

District Administrator Ryan Bargender assured the board that the project would be coming at a time that would allow the district to go to referendum but it would not be asking for an increase in the mil rate.

The project is in its infancy and it was emphasized that all ideas brought to the board were purely that: ideas. Public listening sessions, committee meetings, community surveys and other provisions will be taken over the next few months before anything is formally approved.

The project is in its infancy but Bargender said there are a host of things that could be on the list of upgrades for both the middle/ senior high school buildings and the elementary school. He said the project would look to tackle three main problems with the district’s facilities: Adding space for increasing enrollment, safety and security improvements and upgrading aging infrastructure.

Bargender said the district has added 140 students to its enrollment since 2009. He said the school has added seven classrooms onto the elementary school and two rooms to the middle school while adding none to the high school. The proposed plan would add rooms to the middle/ high school.

Another upgrade to space could include an added kitchen area to help feed the additional students.

Safety measures that could be improved upon are: a modified entrance that would allow for increased security when entering the building and an upgrade to the PA system which would allow for students to hear the alarms and announcements on the elementary playground which is not currently possible.

The infrastructure will also be a talking point throughout the planning stages of the project as certain sanitary and water lines are needing replacement after being installed in the 1960s and 70s. Building and grounds manager Mason Rachu said during the COVID shutdown when the school was closed for an extended period of time, the staff ran the water after the shutdown and discovered a significant amount of rust and debris coming from water spouts throughout the school.

He also outlined persisting problems with the current boiler system, air conditioning in the agriculture room and north gym and ventilation for welding in the shop. More information and specifics will be provided to board members and the public in future meetings.

Playground equipment

The district has had intentions of installing an inclusive playground next to the site of the current playground by the elementary school in the past. The equipment for the playground has been ordered and has been delivered.

Bargender said the district thought about trying to install the equipment using local contractors and using wood chips as the base for the playground. However, administration thought they would be better served making it a truly inclusive playground by installing a rubber base that would allow for wheelchairs to access the playground. The surface also contains four inches of cushion that limits injuries if kids fall on the playground.

Bargender suggested the district use the Carl B. Thompson fund to pay for the project. He said the district currently has $286,000.

Bargender said the fund is not the Carl B. Thompson Trust Fund but rather is money that is set aside every year from the fund for projects like these. He estimated that installation, site work and moving of the fencing around the area would cost the district around $174,000.

Bargender said he hadn’t heard of any special care that the district would need to take for the rubber base and padding.

“The only thing with the new rubber surface is we’ll have to make sure the snow removal guys stay off of it,” Rachu said. “It shouldn’t be a problem. But that new rubber surface is going to be awesome.”

The district approved the installation cost up to $200,000 but the district will have to contact representatives from the Carl B. Thompson Trust before proceeding with using the funds for the cost.

Other business

n The district will be enrolling in the “Juntos” program. The program helps Latinx families of 8-12 grade students and their families with knowledge, skills and resources to prevent youth from dropping out of school. It also encourages families to help their children gain access to a college education.

The program will begin in April on Tuesday nights from 6:30 to 9 p.m.

n About 1,200 trees are scheduled to be delivered to the district on April 24 to begin the process of planting the school forest.

n The district received its first installment of FEMA project payments. The payment was for $190,000 and is the smallest of the payments that total $2.2 million.

n Head basketball coach Brent Faber gave the board his letter of resignation before the meeting. The board accepted his resignation and hired 2015 Abbotsford graduate Garrett Rau as its next head basketball coach. Rau was also hired for the 2023-24 school year to be a middle school science teacher as well as an assistant football coach.

Rau had been teaching and coaching near his college alma mater in Illinois.

n Technology director Glen Orsburn said he has been constantly having to reconnect vape detectors in certain bathrooms throughout the school. He said someone has been accessing the detectors through the ceiling and disconnecting them. Bargender said a student had sliced the wires on one of the detectors and was billed for the damage.