Southland Breaks Ground on $18M Project
September 13, 2019 (Minnesota) — A chain-link fence now wraps around a portion of Southland Schools in Adams, Minn., but it's what will soon be behind the fence that has the district buzzing with excitement.
'[We are] putting an addition onto this building which will include a gymnasium and office spaces and classroom spaces and a new commons area,' said Scott Hall, the Superintendent/ Middle & High School Principal of Southland Schools.
On Friday, ground officially broke on the $18 million expansion and renovation, voters approving the project in a referendum last fall. It came after the School Board decided to close the sole elementary school in Rose Creek as a cost saving measure.
'We have seen a history of declining enrollment in recent years, a lot less people living in our district with less kids,' said Hall. 'This is really moving from two buildings into one building.'
In 2020, Southland will transition from a middle and high school to a K-12 school.
'The middle school high school and high school teachers are very excited, as well as the students, are excited to have the elementary kids in our building with the energy they bring,' said Hall. 'I have also been hearing that the elementary students and staff at rose creek are excited to join us.'
The student council is also looking forward to having a new gym.
'There was a lot of competing with the basketball team and the dance team,' said Kelsey Mensink, a Junior at Southland High School. 'It will be nice to have another area for the dance or the basketball team to practice.'
As for Hall, he is looking forward to not using the 1957 boiler to heat the building anymore.
'A big part of this project with our heating and air conditioning, plumbing, piping, electrical … all of those things will be updated throughout the whole building, he said.
The student council is extending gratitude towards those who put their education above a tax increase.
'I think it's really awesome that they want to help us with a better school,' said Ashlynn Mandt, a Senior at Southland High School.
Construction is set to wrap up by the end of summer in 2020.
To read original article from KAAL TV, click here.
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