Hurley School Board weighs in on CESA purchase

By LARRY HOLCOMBE

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Hurley — The Hurley School Board unanimously approved a resolution by the CESA 12 Board of Control to purchase a building as a new home for CESA’s operations in Ashland.

District Administrator Kevin Genisot said 75% of the 17 school districts in the northern Wisconsin Cooperative Educational Service Agency need to approve such a motion before CESA moves ahead with a second proposal to purchase the former Hickman Chiropractic office on U.S. 2 in Ashland, as it looks to move from its current location in a late 19th century school building on Beaser Avenue.

The 3,290-square foot Hickman building is listed at $689,900, according to information provided at the meeting. The board discussed how the cost could be divided among the districts.

Board President Leslie Kolesar said the services provided by CESA are generally inversely proportionate to the number of students in the district. A larger district, such as Superior or Hayward, may have enough students to have its own school psychologist or other professional services that the small districts use the CESA to provide. So, having the districts share the cost of a building purchase based on enrollment doesn’t equate to the amount of services used. Kolesar said other options include dividing the cost evenly among the 17 districts or the use of some blended option.

Genisot said approving this resolution was just the first step. If 75% of the districts approve this step, then a more detailed resolution to purchase will follow, he said.

The board also approved the purchase of a new tracked side-by-side for grooming cross country ski trails on the school’s grounds. The board looked at four proposals and chose a 2023 Can-Am for $26,398 from Lakeland Powersports in Woodruff. The vehicle can also be equipped with wheels, replacing the tracks. With the wheels, the vehicle will replace a current side-by-side used to transport adults at sporting events and for grounds maintenance.

The Hurley Education Foundation has committed to funding $10,000 of the purchase, said Genisot. He said he plans to write a couple of small grant proposals to hopefully help with the cost, and the district plans to sell its current side-by-side and a snowmobile it has been using to groom trails — all in the hopes of bringing down the cost to the district to $10,000.

Jeff Levra of the school’s maintenance staff recommended this model and will do the work of changing tracks for wheels and back as seasons change.

The board also:

—Approved the calendar for the 2023-2024 school year. The first day of school will be the day after Labor Day, Tuesday, Sept. 5. Thanksgiving break will be Wednesday through Friday, Nov. 22-24. Winter break will be Friday, Dec. 22 through Monday, Jan. 1; and spring break will be the week leading up to Easter, March 25-29. The last day of school will be Wednesday, June 5.

—Heard Athletic Director Steve Lombardo announced the Indianhead Conference coaches and A.D.s have decided on a new name for the conference. Beginning in the fall it will be known as the Northern Lights Conference.

—Heard a report from 6-12 Principal Melissa Oja on ideas being gathered for a remodeling of the middle and high school library. She said an adhoc committee hopes to meet three more times before she brings a proposal to the school board at its next meeting.

—Heard maintenance supervisor Rich Huotari report he is waiting on a second bid for replacing the dust collection system in the shop classroom, and has heard of a second grant opportunity for major work on the building’s heating and cooling system.