Cornell School Board; Long-term facility plans need to be determined

By Ginna Young

It’s been mentioned before, but at the regular Cornell School Board meeting July 26, it was again brought up that the district needs to decide on a plan for the high school. Although changes would likely not come for another 15 years, superintendent Paul Schley asked the board to consider what should be done.

The boilers in the building are at least 10 years old and there is a lot of “lost” space in the facility. Schley says one question that needs to be asked, is if the public wants to have a high school in Cornell. Schley said he knows no one likes to lose their high school, but given the costs to operate/update the building, it may not be the best solution.

If the district wouldn’t run the high school with another district(s), that means the building would either need renovating or demolition, with construction in that space or across the street in what is currently the parking lot.

Schley also said someone may want to donate land for the school or sell it at a reasonable rate.

“A lot of big questions,” said Schley. “I think we need to start putting together some type of plan, as far as what we want to do. It’s hard to run a small school.”

In looking at other districts, Schley says they are in the same problem of shrinking enrollment, but that Cornell’s elementary numbers are holding steady.

“I just don’t know what the future will be,” said Schley.

He also said the track around the football field is in need of repair and wonders if it is worth it to spend the $250,000 or more, to fix it up for four meets a year. Schley says many of the neighboring districts have tracks that can be utilized.

“We can drive there and pay them to host meets for us,” said Schley.

“All those tracks are going to need maintenance, too,” pointed out board president Lyle Briggs.

Schley says it’s not the use, but the winters, that wears the track down and that they have a problem with heaving on Cornell’s track.

Also discussed, was shortening the football field to 80 yards to conform to eight-man standards. Schley says some other teams have already shortened the yardage, while others are leaving the field length at 100, because it is already marked out.

Regardless, Schley wants to replace and even out the goal posts, as they are not that expensive.

“Our goal posts are not accurate,” said Schley.

Artificial turf could also be the way to go, but Schley said turf is expensive. The district could get grants to install the turf, but maintenance is a “killer.”

“It’s probably cheaper to do the track,” said Briggs.

A more immediate nature, is the start of a new school year. Currently, no masks will be required of students and staff, except with a federal order on school buses through Sept. 13. Schley said, for now, it sounds like mask policies and other measures will be left up to each district.

“We want to bring everything back to normal,” he said.

“We’re also respecting the fact that if students want to wear a mask or if a staff member wants to wear a mask, that’s definitely up to them to be able to do that,” said middle/ high school principal Dave Elliott.

Making a return, breakfast and lunch will be served in the commons, but the two buildings might not turn the water fountains on. Spook parades and concerts are also planned, and parents will be allowed to enter the building when dropping their children off in the mornings, as well as an open spectator policy at games.

“I’m looking for a pretty regular year,” said Schley.

To help aid in preparing students for after graduation, four teachers went through training on how to operate the district’s CNC unit. Schley said they want to ensure they have teachers who know how to run the machine, because CVTC is not conducting in-house sessions any longer.

Therefore, Haas, the builder of the CNC, paid for training for the four teachers, while the district paid for hotels, etc., to learn the ropes at the training in Nebraska.

“They set up the class mainly for us,” said Schley.

Also of benefit to the district, some of the staff is taking part in CPR/first-aid certification, paid for by the school for those who want to take the training.

“So, we know who to contact if there’s something that needs to be taken care of medically for our students,” said Elliott.

In the business portion of the meeting, members approved the hire of band/choir/general music/grant coordinator Shannon Gusé; the yearly bread contract with Bimbo Bakeries; and the annual milk contract with Kemps.