Delano superintendent outlines summer facilities work; community education reports capacity strains

Superintendent Shane told the Delano Public School District school board on an August meeting that several summer facilities projects are complete or nearing completion, and administrators are preparing staff and programming for the new school year.

Shane said the district finished resurfacing tennis courts in June, is completing an overlay and crack filling on the campus parking lot, has received poles for planned tennis-court lights and is reconfiguring special-education space at the intermediate school to add calming-room flexibility and interior doorways between classrooms.

Those projects, Shane said, are at varying stages: the tennis court resurfacing is done pending a small punch list; parking-lot work is an overlay rather than full replacement; the light poles have been delivered but installation remains; and door-frame delivery for the special-education reconfiguration is delayed about two to three weeks, which could push finishing close to the start of the school year.

The superintendent said next week the district will begin leadership preparation, including an executive leadership meeting on Monday, an annual back-to-school conference on Aug. 5 and a leadership retreat on Aug. 6 at a city-owned facility in the West Metro Commercial Business Park. New hires expected at the retreat include Krista Watholm, the district’s incoming health services supervisor.

In the district’s financial report, Mary Reeder said June revenues were about 93 percent of the year-to-date budget because state and federal receivables have not yet been booked; state general-education receivables were described as “usually about a million dollars.” She said overall expenditures were roughly 97 percent recorded, with a projected unassigned fund balance similar to last year once receivables and a few late invoices are posted. Reeder noted food service revenue exceeded expectations and community-services revenue ran about 105 percent of budget, in part because interest earnings and late June receipts were higher than forecast. She said Title II and Title IV federal allocations were uncertain; if those funds are not released the district could lose an estimated $20,000–$30,000.

The board also heard an update from the community education director, who described her first month in the role and said staff and families have responded positively to recent program arrangements. She said Tiger Kids Club served more than 200 students with a staff of about 70 and that, for summer transportation, Nate Bridal has driven students for the program and has transported roughly 3,500 student trips back and forth so far this summer. The director said some programs reached capacity and maintain waiting lists.

Board members asked no substantive follow-up questions during the report period. The superintendent and staff described these items as informational and scheduled, with work continuing through the weeks leading up to the first day of school.

The meeting then moved on to board and committee reports.