Tea Area School District updates board on high school temporary occupancy, construction progress and middle school land due diligence

District operations staff reported the high school received temporary occupancy and that staff have been moving into the new spaces while contractors complete remaining work.

An operations speaker identified in the transcript as Wayne said the district received temporary occupancy on Aug. 1 and has been moving staff into the building. Wayne said most classroom wings, the music wing and the office are open; the Black Box Theater and stage rigging require additional work. He said two of nine rigging motors must be replaced and parts were expected to arrive this week. He added the district will receive a grand piano on "next Monday, the eighteenth" (month not specified in the transcript) and that staff planned to build a piano garage onstage and complete stage painting.

Wayne listed outstanding items: carpet installation, handrails, some lighting in the performing arts center, completion of two replacement rigging motors, completion of the elevator after a damaged door is replaced, HVAC balancing and controls adjustments, repair of light sensors and outlets, bell and intercom system checks, restroom fixtures and signage. "Nothing that's gonna keep us from having school on the nineteenth," Wayne said in the meeting.

Staff also updated the board on other projects: the operations shop and bus barn have doors installed and wiring and plumbing rough-ins completed; the high school reroofing project was completed and crews cleaned up the site. District staff moved six trees to provide playground shade and plan to finish the Frontier bus drop-off and repaint parking-lot lines once roofing and cleanup are complete. Landscaping work has lagged due to interior focus, and staff said they will address it before school opens.

On a separate land-acquisition matter, staff reported a Phase I environmental study for a proposed middle-school site found no red flags and indicated a Phase II study likely is unnecessary. Stockwell Engineering submitted a minor plat to the city for approval, the seller is completing a title search, and staff plan soil borings and a survey after the current crop harvest. Staff noted the property lies inside the City of Sioux Falls' jurisdiction and that the city will have final approval on the platting process.

The board expressed appreciation to maintenance, custodial and technology staff for their work preparing facilities for the school year.