system, air conditioning in the ….
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.
