Dieterich School Board Gets Update on Renovation/Expansion Project

Dieterich school board members Monday got an update on the district's construction and renovation project.

Here's a recap, by project:

a. Restrooms: With exception of the new restrooms in the high school gym lobby, all other restrooms renovations are complete and ready for the opening of school.

b. Elementary Addition: Still on schedule for a December completion date. The 3 new classrooms are planned to house Kindergarten.

c. Gym Lobby: On schedule for a completion date near Labor Day. HVAC will be installed in mid-November.

d. South Addition: On schedule for a Thanksgiving completion date. This addition will include the new high school science lab.

e. North Addition: On schedule for an April 2024 completion date. This addition includes 2 new high school classrooms and renovation of the old science lab.

f. Baseball/Softball Park renovations are complete, with the exception of the overhead netting.

g. Electrical Upgrade: To be completed prior to the opening of school on August 16th.

h. HS Gym Floor Repairs: The HS gym floor sustained water damage due to construction. Repairs are expected to be complete the latter part of September or early October. All HS volleyball matches have been scheduled for the JH gym until repairs are complete.

Also Monday, the Dieterich board approved a tentative budget for the new fiscal year with final adoption expected at the September meeting. The Board also approved its hazardous routes resolution, and heard from Travis Kessler and Brent Bohnhoff regarding the proposed addition of a fence around the T-ball and practice field, but no action was taken.

Building principals Scott Kocher and Josh Benefiel updated the Board on the registration process and current enrollment numbers for the upcoming school year. Elementary registration is now at 343, while the junior/senior high registration is 265. The student total is 608, the same enrollment as last school year. That number is expected to rise.

In personnel action, the Dieterich board accepted the resignation of Sara Deters as an aide, reassigned Clayton Campton to assistant high school baseball coach, approved Justin Funneman as a volunteer assistant high school baseball coach, hired Alisha Chaney as aide, and approved a maternity leave for Deanna Jansen for November through February.

Also Monday, Dieterich Superintendent Cary Jackson reviewed the first draft of a facility use plan for the new classroom space, and discussed options for a school board goal setting session.