Elementary school opens lunch room, kitchen

Major construction at the Staples-Motley Elementary School is now complete, with the new kitchen and lunch room open and operating. Students were able to use the lunch room to welcom veterans on Veterans Day and the kitchen was open to prepare a Thanksgiving meal the week before the holiday. The Staples-Motley School Board heard a building update from Damien Williams of ICS at their Nov. 21 meeting. 

Superintendent Shane Tappe said the project met the time frame set for the school. It was also on budget, with around $50,000 remaining in the contingency fund, which can be shifted to the next round of construction scheduled for high school and elementary school gym.

The board also approved plans for high school building refurbishing, which includes expanding the south gym area at the high school and adding a walking track around the top of the gym. The new wellness area is part of a donation from Lakewood Health System. Tappe said the wellness area will be operated by the school and will be open to the public, who can purchase memberships like a fitness club. 

The construction will also replace the portion of the gym wall that has compromised integrity, one of the reasons the school is doing the construction. The newly refurbished gym will include outdoor lighting, but will have protections against glare. The refurbishing will also update many of the classrooms and provide new lighting.

The board approved drawings of the project, which was to go out for bids on Nov. 23, with bid opening Dec. 14.

In other news, Tappe said three parties are interested in purchasing the Motley school building. The school is currently selling surplus items by silent bid auctions.