St. Cloud schools outline 2025 summer projects at junior highs and Apollo

St. Cloud Public School District officials presented a districtwide summary of planned 2025 summer building and site projects, with the largest work centered at North and South Junior High and follow‑up work at Apollo High School and other sites.

Joel Heitkamp, the district’s executive director of operations, told the Board of Education on April 16 that “a huge chunk of these projects are happening in two spaces,” and walked members through flooring, restroom, mechanical and exterior repairs planned across several campuses.

Heitkamp said North Junior High will receive new main‑office flooring, a reconfigured nurses’ suite, single‑stall restrooms on both main floors, a permanent wall and upgraded flooring in the auxiliary gym, extensive vinyl and classroom flooring replacements, upgraded LED lighting, window replacements and boiler system updates. At South Junior High, the district plans a full locker replacement, hallway and conference‑room flooring, painting to unify past additions, a new movable (and motorized) gym wall and targeted classroom and cafeteria updates.

At Apollo High School, staff plan to finish roof projects carried from last year and to resurface the south parking lot. Heitkamp said the parking work will be coordinated so underlying drainage can accommodate a future building addition; on whether to delay paving until the new building is constructed, board member Scott Endresen asked, “Should we be waiting until that building is built before having all that construction equipment run over this new parking lot?” Heitkamp replied, “I think it’s safe to say that we’ll take every precaution needed,” and said the district will design drainage and other infrastructure so later expansion can be accommodated.

Other planned work includes replacement and relining of tennis courts at Oak Hill and Kennedy (with pickleball striping), an Oak Hill pre‑K fenced play area, multiple playground repairs, and completion of a TEC paver ceiling project begun last fall. Heitkamp also highlighted routine electrical‑panel work and boiler fluid upgrades districtwide.

Funding and procurement: Heitkamp said most work is paid from the district’s long‑term facility maintenance fund; North Junior High will also contribute building‑level allocations for the nurses’ suite work, and the board’s one‑time allocations will fund some playground repairs. Amy Scalarud, executive director of finance and business services, said the district works with its construction managers to pursue any available utility rebates and incentives. “We always make sure that we’re utilizing those whenever they’re available,” she said, referring to programs offered by utilities such as Xcel Energy.

Board members asked several implementation questions. Al Dahlgren asked about portable team benches and bleachers for North’s athletic fields; Heitkamp said he would “work with activities director Ridpath” to evaluate options. Scott Endresen asked what replaced the junior high pools; Heitkamp said both pools were filled with sand and resurfaced, and that the spaces now house an auxiliary gym and a fitness/weight area. Heather Weems and others asked about tree removal and planter upkeep; Heitkamp said those items will be funded from the buildings and grounds budget that renews on July 1.

Heitkamp and Amy Scalarud emphasized that bids for the North and South projects came in below initial estimates, allowing the district to add several higher‑need items before construction begins. Heitkamp said the district aims to maximize work while the two junior highs will be out of use for the summer and expects to bring any large change orders back to the board for approval.

This was an information item; board members did not take formal action on the presentation. Heitkamp said staff will return with details and required contract or change‑order approvals as designs and schedules are finalized.