HURON — Huron School Board members heard a facilities report outlining recommendations for CTE expansion, the McKinley School and Huron High School during Monday night’s Board meeting.

The report, presented by Katie Becker, included a condition, educational adequacy and occupant survey regarding all three sites to help the district map a path forward through short- and long-term goals.

Options on the table for McKinley School include remodeling the existing building, which still has a strong exterior, or tearing it down completely and erecting a 17,800-square-foot building on the site. The current McKinley building is just over 10,000-square-feet, and building new would provide more space for classes.

The cost breakdown would be an estimated $6 million for remodeling, and a projected $12.2 million if a new building were to be constructed.

At Huron High School, a $9 million remodel is recommended to add additional classroom space, with some classes to be moved into the CTE building. The remodeling at the high school would also increase space in the music rooms to meet current needs and accessibility issues.

The CTE expansion report includes an option of building a 46,000-square-foot addition, and option two would include construction at both the CTE building and the Souled Out Center located on the north side of Huron.

Option one at the CTE would cost $22.7 million in phase one of the project, and $9.5 million in phase two. Another proposal would take a budget of $35.5 million for the CTE expansion and remodeling at the Souled Out Center, utilizing extra land around the current building.

Becker said new buildings would have about a 60 year lifespan, and the same lifespan could be expected for a remodel at McKinley School, which has a firm foundation and outer structure.

Dr. Kraig Steinhoff, superintendent, read a letter commending students taking part in a new program at Huron High School, Jobs for Americas Graduates (JAG). JAG encourages students to take leadership roles, and empowers young people with skills and support to succeed in education and life.

“I believe it is important to pause and reflect from time to time why we do what we do as a school district,” Steinhoff said. “In Huron, we are guided by our Strategic Plan. I’m confident our focus on the initiatives of student achievement, staff development and learning environment will lead to helping students reach their fullest potential upon graduation.

“These decisions are difficult,” he added. “It’s important to remember why we do what we do and let that guide us as we try to make decisions that will have a 50- to 60-year impact.”

Steinhoff also extended congratulations to:

• Boys’ soccer players Ah Lar Sar, senior, and Ta Ha Saw, junior, who earned the ESD All Conference Team award
• Senior boys’ soccer players who earned Academic All State Honors, Kuh Ner Moo, Kmui Htoo and Vu Nhat Nguyen
• High school students Karly Knippling and Galilea Garcia, both sophomores, and Tess Vlieger, freshmen, who qualified for All State Orchestra in Rapid City on Oct. 27 and 28.

Thank you’s were extended to Caseys for donating pizza for Buchanan students, Anytime Fitness for donating treats for the school staff at Madison 2-3 Center and McKinley Learning Center, Modern Woodmen of America/Craig Slepikas for donating activities to the speech therapy department and Miss VanWyhe’s classroom at Buchanan, and all who helped support Red Ribbon Week Oct. 23-31. Red Ribbon Week is an alcohol, tobacco, smoking and other drug and violence prevention awareness campaign.

There will be developmental and preschool screening on Oct. 26 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the McKinley Learning Center.

The Board also approved a leave of absence request following an executive session.