Windom Area Schools reported the finding of its community survey at a special meeting last Thursday and — as a result of that feedback — the project’s overall cost has dropped quite a bit.
During the special board meeting, Superintendent Jamie Frank said that based on survey results, the district eliminated the need for a new varsity-level baseball and softball field and made adjustments to the Fine Arts Center, which would save taxpayers $7.5 million. The total cost of the project decreased by 20% from the $35 million originally in the plan to $27.5 million.
“The survey results were very helpful and provided the district with guidance when making decisions regarding this project,” Frank said. “With 60% of parents and 37% of non-parents in favor of the entire project, we knew that we had good support, but adjustments needed to be made to bring the overall cost down.”
The school board approved the adjustments to the original plan and the plan will be submitted to the Minnesota Department of Education for review. The motion passed at 6-1, with Dustin Stevens being the lone candidate who voted no.
For more on this story, please see the Dec. 18 edition of the Citizen.
