No issues with Dickinson's Prairie Rose construction

Talk about it

The construction of Prairie Rose Elementary School is coming along without a hitch.

Assistant Superintendent Vince Reep updated the Dickinson Public School Board about the district’s latest addition at Monday’s regular meeting at the Central Administration Building.

“Once they put the stud walls in there it’s pretty exciting that you can actually see where those places are,” he said.

Small details like the placement of electrical outlets help define rooms like computer labs and classrooms, Reep said.

“Everything’s going well,” he said. “We haven’t had any surprises at all yet.”

Construction crews are switching from propane to natural gas heat in the next week, which is what will heat the building once complete, Reep said.

Construction heat helps the concrete set, limiting worries for the durability of the building, Reep said.

“When they do pour we don’t have to say, ‘My gosh, it was only five above,’ because those areas are heated and enclosed,” he said.

Reep, Principal Sherry Libis and other teachers and staff will be meeting with a supply company to begin ordering desks, equipment and other needs for Prairie Rose. He is working with Dickinson Parks and Recreation to order playground equipment.

“Things are progressing very well,” Reep said.

The board approved the purchase of two tractors, one utility and one lawn, for a combined total of more than $62,000.

The tractors will be used for lawn maintenance and snow removal at Prairie Rose School, Reep said.

In other news:

r Dunn County approved a grant application for more than $80,000 for DPS to purchase a bus, Superintendent Doug Sullivan said.

r With minor protest from Board member Leslie Ross, DPS approved the 2013-14 academic calendar.

Ross, for what she said was the 10th time in as many years, put in an official objection to a short spring break.

“I just want to make sure that you continue to know that I am still seeking a week off,” she said. “I just want to continue to voice my objection to the no week off.”

Spring break encompasses the Thursday and Friday before and Monday after Easter 2014.

The 2013 school year begins Aug. 21 and graduation will take place May 25, 2014.

In the 2012-13 calendar, teacher conferences happened to fall on Election Day, which caused some contention.

“Not only was the person’s comment about the building that the individual was from inaccurate, the principal did take a lot of preventive steps to make sure everybody had an opportunity to go vote in advance,” Sullivan said. “I’m confident that voting opportunities are being afforded to all the employees in the school district.”

There is not a general election in 2013, but there are midterm primaries in the spring of 2014.

Tags: prairie rose, public school board, news, local, dickinson