Work continues on new athletic fields at high school

Photo by Robert Williams
The baseball field formerly located between the schools will be relocated to the west of the current varsity baseball field. The relocation has been added to the current construction project. The move of the field had been on hold or was not going to be replaced without contingent funds available.

By Robert Williams

Editor

The July meeting of the Frazee school board was a quick 37 minutes long Monday, July 11.

Nearly half the meeting was filled by LeeAnn Felix and Anna Potvin updating the board on GROW Frazee Vergas, the group formed to utilize the 5-year Positive Community Norms (PCN) grant from the Minnesota Department of Human Services-Behavioral Health Division.

July marks the first year the group has been in place. Potvin and Felix reviewed the progress the group has made with the grant in that timeframe.

“It’s been a year of building and learning,” said Felix.

GROW Frazee Vergas held its first public event earlier this summer with more planned outings at Looney Days and Turkey Days.

Upcoming in August will be a youth leadership training for area students to come up with strategies for the upcoming school year on how they can involve their peers. 

“I think this is a really good thing for the community and I see where in the past we probably tried to grow this way in other areas, but never in a concentrated effort where we’re absolutely talking directly and listening to what the students have to say,” said GROW member Hank Ludtke. “It’s going to be enlightening for us over the next four years.”

GROW Frazee Vergas is focused on preventing substance use in seventh through 12th grade students and creating activities and opportunities to benefit the physical and mental health issues of area kids.

The school district is the fiscal holder of the grant.

Band visits Chicago

Music director Brian Selander and 32 members of the school band thanked the board for sponsoring the recent band trip to Chicago.

The band had a full schedule of visiting Chicago landmarks and entertainment venues taking in the Willis Tower, Lincoln Park Zoo, seeing the Blue Man Group, Millennium Park, a historical crime tour from the mob era, the Navy Pier, a river cruise, the Science Museum, Medieval Times and Six Flags.

“My goal is to give them as many experiences as possible,” said Selander. “We’re just happy to get these kinds of opportunities.”

Project Oversight Committee update

Treasurer Nathan Matejka updated the board with a brief update on the ongoing construction at the school, mainly work on both school’s parking lots and internal work like the high school HVAC system, structural reinforcement, water lines and continuing efforts at the elementary school.

Work at the elementary school parking lot and MnDOT storing equipment and supplies at the football practice field may move the lineup of the Turkey Days parade. Other options are being investigated.

Matejka also announced the baseball field was officially added to the project. The former field was in the area where the new track and football field will be located. 

Relocating that field had been previously approved by the school board, but was contingent on funds being available. The new field will be located to the west, adjacent to the current varsity baseball field.

Personnel

The school board reviewed recommendations for hire of three new district employees and approved the hiring of Lynn Tappe as the junior high volleyball coach, Diana Meyer as a 7-12 English teacher and Paige Callahan as a third grade classroom teacher.

Donation

The Detroit Lakes Rotary Breakfast Club donated $500 to the elementary school for literacy to enhance the school’s reading program or library.

Board candidate filing period

The school board candidate filing period for the November general election is August 2 through August 16. 

At that election, four members will be elected to the school board for terms of four years each. Affidavits of candidacy are available from the school district clerk, 305 North Lake Street, Frazee, MN 56544 – due to limited access during construction, please call Stacey Foss, 218-334-3181, ext. 5601, to set up a time. 

The filing fee for this office is $2. 

A candidate for this office must be an eligible voter, must be 21 years of age or more on assuming office, must have been a resident of the school district from which the candidate seeks election for 30 days before the general election, and must have no other affidavit on file for any other office at the same primary or next ensuing general election. The affidavits of candidacy must be filed in the office of the school district clerk and the filing fee paid prior to 5 p.m. on August 16.