Sue Sitter/PCT New concrete footings mark the location where the west side of the Ely Elementary School building will expand. Work has continued at a steady pace on the construction project.

After an initial delay, construction on Ely Elementary School is moving along as planned, Ely Principal Jason Gullickson said at the Rugby Public School District’s regular board meeting on Aug. 9.

Issues with concrete footings at the site where the building would expand caused the delay.

However, Gullickson said the footings were in place and construction was proceeding. He added registration had begun for the school year, and he expected an enrollment total of about 270 students.

“It’s so exciting,” Gullickson said.

Gullickson added procedures for arrival and dismissal at the school had changed to allow for construction on the west side of the campus. Entries and exits had moved to the south and east part of the building, and the City of Rugby had agreed to make the intersection of Second Avenue Southwest and Second Street Southwest, and the intersection of Second Avenue Southwest and Third Street Southwest four-way stops for added student safety.

School bus drop-off and pickup areas would move to the east side of the building, Gullickson said. To ease traffic congestion at dismissal time, bus students would be dismissed earlier than students walking home or being picked up by parents or guardians.

Rugby High School Principal Jared Blikre said student registration would be held for 7-12 grades on Aug. 10-11. He added he expected an enrollment of about 300.

The 2022-23 school year begins for Rugby students on Thursday, Aug. 25.

Superintendent Mike McNeff told the board representatives of the Department of Homeland Security would visit Rugby schools on Aug. 10 to make recommendations to increase security on the campuses.

In related business, McNeff and Gullickson said the district would develop an emergency exit procedure for Ely Elementary School, which has limited access due to construction.

McNeff added he had learned North Dakota legislators were considering cutting property taxes due to increased revenues from oil producers.

However, he added he was concerned that counties and local governments might “swoop in” and boost taxes at their level to take the difference left by the decrease.

McNeff presented financials for the district.

He said the district’s general fund had seen a decrease of $31,300 over 2021, however, he expected more revenue from late tax payments and other sources.

In other business, the board reviewed and approved a revised Safe Return to In-Person and Continuity of Services. The revisions eliminate a requirement to track COVID-related infection data and the school’s virtual academy.

The board reviewed and approved a level-based pay scale for support staff, which raises pay for experience and creates a level for paraeducators who have North Dakota teaching degrees.

Blikre told the board Rugby High School had hired Hannah Lemer as an English/Language Arts teacher; Isaac Ripplinger as an agriculture teacher; Jonny Skipper as an art teacher, and Hannah Wiedler-Schell as a special education teacher.

Gullickson said Ely Elementary had two new staff members for the 2022-23 school year. Shelby Boucher has been hired to teach first grade, and Margaret Vetsch has been hired as a food service aide.

McNeff gave the board a report on a condensed summer school program, which ran during June.

The one-month session had 62 students participating, with 20 staff delivering services such as math and reading intervention. The program used Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds.

Before the meeting ended, the board again discussed the Ely Elementary School expansion project, which included renovations not included in the construction budget. McNeff and board members discussed ways to raise funds for items such as a new gym floor with events such as jog-a-thons or reading marathons that included elementary school students.

McNeff said participation would give the students a “sense of ownership” of their school.

The board will hold its next regular meeting on Sept. 13 at 7 a.m. in the Rugby High School library.