While the proposed expansion of Clearview Elementary School in Clear Lake to include seventh- and eighth-grade students has apparently been placed on hold for the time being, the St. Cloud School District is still planning to move forward with a $4.6 million addition of “brick-and-mortar” renovations that will replace the school’s portable classrooms with permanent structures.
The project plan for Clearview includes other renovations, such as a “much needed” new gymnasium, air conditioning and various repairs, according to Principal Sheri Rutar.
The plan to add seventh- and eighth-grade space first ran into difficulty due to the method the district planned to use to fund it. The district planned to meet the costs of the expansion with a lease levy, which state regulations say can be used to fund an expansion of no more than 20% of the current square footage of the current building.
Architect David Leapaldt of IIW Minnesota did complete an expansion design concept plan that can be used to create the needed space once funding is available. He and district officials had met with Clearview staff earlier this year to discuss the future needs of the facility. The expansion may also be included on a future referendum ballot with other proposed district renovations.
The cost of the renovations at Clearview, Kennedy and North schools is now $17 million, up significantly from the original $12 million estimate provided when the project was first proposed.
