The school district wants to show how the new Brookside Education Center is truly a multi-use building for the whole community and is planning an open house next week to showcase the programs housed there.

Tuesday, October 02, 2001

The school district wants to show how the new Brookside Education Center is truly a multi-use building for the whole community and is planning an open house next week to showcase the programs housed there.

Brookside was the district’s junior high, but was converted into administrative offices and a community center when the district consolidated buildings to save money.

The open house is scheduled for Oct. 11 from 3-7:15 p.m. and will be held in conjunction with the next public informational meeting for the excess-levy referendum.

According to Community Education Director Heidi Cunningham, the open house will feature guided tours of the building and its programs, free child care, free pizza and pop from 5-6:15, displays from various community partners and door prizes to be given away at 7 p.m. Free child care will be available.

&uot;The building has so much activity in it now, we want the community to see and hear about it,&uot; Cunningham said.

Meanwhile, district officials will conduct the public meeting on the referendum at 6:15 p.m. in both Spanish and English in two separate rooms in the building. Superintendent David Prescott said the Spanish meeting is designed to welcome people in the community who might have an easier time understanding the complicated terms of school finance in their own language.

&uot;These meetings are supposed to help all of our voters make an informed decision. We don’t want to ignore an important part of our community,&uot; he said.

In other school board news:

n Finance Director Mark Stotts told the board that the district lost about 34 students who had one or both parents employed by Farmland Foods. He warned the board that he may have to approach them for a budget amendment if the enrollment declines at all over the course of the year.

n The board approved a slate of election judges for the Nov. 6 election. Voters will have six polling places within the district including the Clarks Grove municipal building, Hollandale municipal building, Hayward Community Hall, Brookside Education Center, Halverson Elementary School and United Methodist Church.

The excess levy referendum is the only item on the ballot.

n The board approved a trip to Mexico this March for high school Spanish students. The week-long trip will cost about $1,400 per student, but fundraisers are planned to lower the cost. The group will visit Mexico City, Merida, Isla Mujeres and Cancun.

n The board approved an agreement between the district and Albert Lea Medical Center for athletic training services. The agreement states the medical center will provide certified athletic trainers for high-risk athletic events to consult with athletes and help determine if injured players are able to return to action.

The district pays $3,200 for the services, plus $10 per hour for additional events.