EDUCATION PRoject 309 school improvements to break ground in ’23

Park Rapids Area Schools’ program of facility improvements and additions, known as PRoject 309, continues to move forward, with dirt to start turning over in 2023.

A $51.65 million bonding referendum was approved on Nov. 2, 2021 with 55% of voters in favor. The district has partnered with local project management company ICS and JLG Architects.

According to Superintendent Lance Bagstad, core goals of PRoject 309 are to improve safety and security, provide more space for growing enrollment and programs, improve students’ college and career readiness and update existing educational spaces.

To achieve this, the district opted to hold two bond sales. The first, for $30 million, took place in January 2022, with the second for $21 million in January 2023.

Part of PRoject 309 was already completed last year, with the Helten Avenue tennis courts rebuilt during the summer of 2022. Next steps in 2023 include demolition of the Frank White Education Center (May-June), adding new parking, a parent pick-up/drop-off lane and playgrounds at Century School (summer), building a new bus garage off Helten Ave. (summer-fall) and starting a new seventh- and eighth-grade wing, auxiliary gym, offices and a parking area at the high school, for completion in 2024.

“There will be construction zones around our building,” Bagstad advised. “Starting this summer, the high school bus loop will be a construction staging point, so we will not be able to access that parking lot. That’s going to put the hockey arena in a little bind for a while, because right now, they park in this parking lot. But we’re going to be making a road from Helten Avenue to Huntsinger Avenue, so that there will be access to the rink from both streets.”

Bagstad said residents will see a lot of work starting, but it shouldn’t interrupt the flow of traffic in the neighborhood, except perhaps temporarily to connect utility services. “There is going to be some disruption, but hopefully very minimal,” he said, adding that temporary fencing will also surround the construction area.

He also noted that construction phases were planned to ensure there would always be safe egress from the occupied parts of the school.

As for the Century School parking and pickup/drop-off improvements, Bagstad anticipated they will be completed this summer, so that parents and students can begin enjoying their benefits by back-to-school time in the fall, with the new playgrounds ready for use by mid- to late June.

As for what taxpayers can expect from the project finan- cially, Fritze said 2022’s bond sale got a great rate at 2.45%. Going into a second bond sale scheduled for early February, he added, “We know that we have an A+ rating with the S&P rating organization, so a lot of people look at this very favorably and they’ll want to bid on these bonds. So, we’re hoping for a good rate.”

The project continues into 2024-25 with more high school additions and interior renovations at both the high school and Century School.

“Getting through construction, it will be a disruption of the norm,” Bagstad said, “but it is going to be very well worth it in the end for our students and programs.”

All phases of PRoject 309 are slated for completion by the fall of 2025. To follow the progress, visit www.project309.org.

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