Board approves multi-year arena use agreement with city despite construction concerns

The East Grand Forks Public School District Board of Education approved a multi-year arena use agreement with the city of East Grand Forks covering use of the Civic Center, VFW Memorial Arena and the Blue Line Arena.

The agreement sets payments of $120,000 for the 2025–26 year, $125,000 for 2026–27 and $130,000 for 2027–28, as presented in the board packet. A motion to approve the agreement passed after board discussion about planned city construction that could limit facility availability for at least part of next year.

Board members asked whether the district would receive any rate reduction because the city plans upgrades and construction that could affect graduation and other full-district uses. District staff said the rate increase reflected a catch-up from a prior year in which no increase was applied and that the contract covers high-school varsity and junior-varsity teams for rink access. "The agreement is just for the high school teams," a district staff member said during discussion.

Trustees and staff discussed contingency planning if ice or compressors were unavailable during construction and whether the district would be able to renegotiate if the city could not provide the ice. The superintendent said the city would likely have a larger exposure if the arena were unavailable, and the district would address availability with the city if necessary.

The board approved the motion without a roll-call vote recorded in the transcript; the chair asked for all in favor and the motion carried.

Ending: The board directed administrators to continue conversations about alternative venues and to monitor city upgrade plans and operating costs after construction.