Superintendent Larson reports gas-line strike at middle school; construction and enrollment updates for Brandon Valley School District 49-2

Superintendent Larson told the Brandon Valley School District 49-2 board on the evening’s meeting that a contractor struck a natural gas line at Brandon Valley Middle School on the afternoon of the incident, prompting the building’s evacuation and a coordinated response that allowed staff and students to re-enter later the same day.

"We were able to get that stopped, and then, utilize our bus loop and our parking lot for, the PM dismissal... and then we were able to get back into the building, around 04:00," Larson said, describing MidAmerican Energy’s on-site response and the district’s use of alternate dismissal routes.

Why it matters: the district said there is no expected impact to school operations the following day, and Larson praised operations manager Henschel, middle school administrators and staff for handling the event. An unidentified board member also commended the district and noted parents reported appreciation for the communication during the incident.

Other operational and facilities updates Larson provided included progress on Birkman Valley Elementary, where most steel columns are in place and masonry work is advancing; local roadwork affecting access at the Veterans Parkway and Arrowhead Parkway intersection; and a delayed timeline on the Highway 42 bridge with no new estimate available. "That project continues, continues to progress well," Larson said of the elementary work.

Larson also reminded families that free and reduced meal applications are available through Skyward (Family Access) and said students who qualify for reduced-price meals will receive the full meal at no cost this year. He presented the academic calendar for board review and reported that staggered start schedules for different grades completed earlier in the week.

On enrollment, Larson said the district is "up, just over 80 students," and that the official fall count — the district’s enrollment figure that determines various allocations — will be taken on the last Friday in September. He said some movement in and out of the district is expected before that date and that he would confirm capacity trigger numbers for the intermediate and middle schools after reviewing the five-year plan.

Next steps: the board did not take additional action on the items Larson reported; Larson distributed committee dates for the year and offered to follow up with the board about capacity thresholds and any timeline updates for the Highway 42 bridge.