Today it’s a muddy field, but by the fall of 2019 it’ll be the site of the new Tech High School.

 

Monday, ground was broken for the long-awaited new St. Cloud Tech High School, with attendees welcomed by Supt. Willie Jett, who thanked everyone involved in the project who worked for years to make it a reality, including community members for voting in favor of the referendum. 

 

“We’re not just building a building, we’re building futures,” said Jett. “We have a saying in District 742, ‘We are 742 proud.’ But today I think it’s more fair to say we are all Tech proud.”

 

Tech HS Principal Charles Eisenreich told the crowd discussions about replacing the old Tech High School had been going on since his days of teaching there nearly 30 years ago.

 

“Speaking for all our staff we’re excited to see this begin,” said Eisenreich. “This is a great moment as we embark on the future of Tech now and into the 21st Century.”

 

St. Cloud Mayor Dave Kleis said voters approving the new building shows they’re doing the right thing.

 

“The future is bright because of the dedicated staff, and more that, the community is dedicated,” he said. “Cities do not do well unless there’s a commitment to students and education.” 

 

School Board Chair Al Dahlgren and Brady Pederson, a member of Tech’s future first graduating class in 2020, also spoke during the ceremony. Members of the high school band played The Star-Spangled Banner and Tech’s school song.

 

The 324,000-square foot school will provide unique learning opportunities for the district’s 1,600 students in grades 9-12. It will be divided into six integrated learning communities with flexible spaces, include an 800-seat auditorium and a multi-purpose stadium with a track. For the first time the school will have all its competitive activities on one site.

 

The school is incorporating the natural environment that surrounds the property for enhanced learning, including woodlands, wetlands and planned rain gardens.

 

St. Cloud Area District 742 encompasses eight elementary schools, three middle schools (6-8), two high schools (9-12), three alternative learning schools, an early education center and a community education center.

 

The new St. Cloud Tech High School is expected to open in the fall of 2019. The $104.5 million project was approved by voters in November.