School Board Moving Forward with South View Expansion

The Edina Board of Education has unanimously approved moving forward with the renovation and construction project at , set to begin this September.

The $2.3 million project will increase the size of the cafeteria, creating a common space for students outside of the lunch hour, and renovate a number of classrooms. It will add 5,750 square feet to the building.

Vaughn Dierks, director of public relations for Wold Architects and Engineers, said the project came about when enrollment projections showed the middle school would be 168 students over capacity. The Minnesota Department of Education was able to approve the project before the state shutdown went into effect, closing the department until further notice.

Having the middle school under construction until fall 2012 might seem obtrusive, but Dierks said he doesn't expect any "major impact" to traffic flow in and out of the school.

"We'll utilize space off of the service road by the cafeteria or between the service road and the main road for trailers, if necessary," he said.

Dierks estimates $130,000 of project costs will go toward furnishing the new spaces, though that will have to come out of the district's capital fund budget rather than as part of a lease levy. Wold is hoping to complete design drawings by this fall, with hopes of breaking ground shortly thereafter.

Board members also voted in favor of:

• Authorizing an operating referendum renewal in the amount of $400 per student for the next 10 years.
• Authorizing a set to pull in $4.5 million in its first year, to be used for instructional learning technology. The levy will replace the expiring tech levy and will be applicable for 10 years.
• A licensing agreement with School Space Media for the 2011-12 school year. This agreement allows School Space Media to access district property during certain athletic events and advertise on the fields and/or courts.
• Fee increases for the 2011-12 school year for facilities rental, activities and athletics participation and AP (Advanced Placement) tests.
• The purchase of $48,390 in replacement musical instruments.
• The purchase of an LCD projector and a screen for $31,900.