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Superintendent outlines construction delays, funding plan for new gym floor; in-person classes set for Sept. 14
Summary
Superintendent Tim Tide Tidelaca told the council repeated structural issues and plan-change delays have pushed back school construction. He said the district will use long-term facilities maintenance funds to replace the gym floor and has submitted a 10-year plan to MDE; school is scheduled to open Sept. 14 in person.
Superintendent Tim Tide Tidelaca told the Olivia City Council that repeated structural issues and plan-change delays have stalled portions of the district’s construction work but that staff are working to finish critical spaces and keep the school year on schedule. "We've figured out a way to replace our gym floor and pay for it with our long term facilities maintenance funds, which won't impact our general fund or the taxpayers," Tidelaca said.
Tidelaca said crews are completing the special education suite and district offices (the district office has moved into Room 122), and that the district is replacing leaking pipes under elementary classrooms over the next three years. He said the district has submitted a 10-year facilities plan to MDE and reiterated the plan for an in-person start on September 14, adding that food-service logistics remain under discussion. "Right now, our best option seem to be either getting a portable kitchen in a double wide trailer ... or we've been talking with Saint Lucia's dirt," he said, describing choices staff are evaluating to ensure students have adequate time to eat.
When asked about the project timeline and overall cost, a council member framed the outstanding question as "the $39,900,000 question," and Tidelaca cited recurring unforeseen structural issues and the time required for structural-engineer reviews and revised plans as the main drivers of delay. Councilors also noted that early feasibility studies had flagged structural concerns, with one member saying those warnings were distributed in packet materials and had influenced earlier votes on whether to replace vs. repair the building.
The council requested a clearer tax-impact projection tied to the referendum and building plans; staff said the county auditor could provide ballpark figures for the upcoming budget work session. Tidelaca and councilors closed the update by stressing cooperation on mitigation steps and by thanking staff and community partners for assistance during construction.
