Sheldon Schools and City Agree On Ball Field Property, Class of 2025 Sees BIG Gain

Date posted - August 15, 2012

It’s a Deal.   Finally, the Sheldon School Board and City Council have agreed on the wording of an agreement for the creation and operation of  new recreational facilities along Highway 18, just north of the High School and Middle School.

This will include property that the city had acquired from O’Brien County Implement.  The original language in the agreement stated that this property would be deeded over to the Sheldon Community School District as soon as the agreement was signed and filed with the State.

However, the City Council did not want this to happen until they were assured that a definite plan for the proposed use of the land was developed.

The school board refused to accept this idea, saying they wanted to get some work done on the land this fall and didn’t want to make improvements on land they did not own.  So, the city added new wording to the contract which was presented to the School Board Wednesday.  The Board approved the new wording without discussion, all members voting in favor.

The original contract stated that the agreement may be terminated by a vote of both the School District and the City.  Upon termination the personal property shall be divided equally and the real estate shall belong to the School District.   The final agreement approved by both parties adds the following…”Provided however, that upon such termination the parties shall negotiate in good faith to determine the amount, if any, of compensation the school district will pay the city for receiving the real estate and the City will cover any incurred expenses to the school district.”

Superintendent Spears said the School district will work with the City to fine tune plans for the property.

If attendance on the opening day is an indicator, the Sheldon Community School District will experience an increase in enrollment this year.

Part of this is due to larger numbers at East Elementary.  Principal Tanya Langholdt told the School Board Wednesday that she had expected a kindergarten class of about one hundred with an actual count Wednesday of 103.  That’s an increase of 25 from the previous school year, with a possibility of four more.   Along with the other grades, East Elementary will gain 36 total students. Middle School Principal Cindy Barwick reported that their numbers will probably be down a little from last year.  According to Principal Matt Meendering the High School had some unexpected late enrollments which will probably result in an enrollment increase at their center.

School Superintendent Robin Spears reported that the first day of school went well with only one glitch in the new bus route system.  He said that one bus driver failed to stop at the appointed place in Sheldon, leaving quite a few students waiting for transportation.  When it was apparent that this is what happened, families and neighbors in the area took the youngsters to school.  Spears said that after school they received two phone calls from parents looking for their children.  After an investigation it was found that one of the children went home with a friend without telling her family.

In the other case the school had received a phone call requesting the school to drop off a child at a different location, but the mother was not aware of this.

Spears also reported on the East Elementary KIDS Committee  meeting which was held July 31^st.  The committee reviewed the needs at the East Elementary School and toured the facility to get a better feel for the current building condition and spaces available.  Members stressed the need for information on what can be done to improve conditions.   KIDS is an acronym for “Keep Improving District Schools”.

And, the School Board heard a report from Spanish Club students who spent ten days in Nicaragua.  The students told of many experiences including their work with an after-school program and work with disadvantaged kids.  They expressed their thanks to the School Board for helping to make this trip possible.