New era for Cleveland Elementary

By Lauren Radomski (Contact) | The Daily Journal

Published Tuesday, October 23, 2007

When Fergus Falls third and fourth graders gathered outside Cleveland Elementary Monday, it was for no ordinary assembly.

Joined by district teachers, administrators and residents, student representatives took shovels to Cleveland’s playground gravel, marking the start of the school’s construction project.

“To get to this point today, our community came together and with a resounding ‘yes’ vote, gave us permission to move forward with this new facility,” said Scott Colbeck, elementary school principal.

“It’s hard to believe, yet thrilling to know, that in less than one year from today, we’ll hardly recognize this place,” Colbeck said.

When the 10-month project is completed, Cleveland will house all of the district’s third, fourth and fifth graders — the first time in 25 years that fifth graders will attend an elementary school. The finished building will include a new gymnasium and eight additional classrooms.

Looking across the sea of students sitting in Cleveland’s playground area, school board chairman Matthew Lemke thanked not only teachers, administrators, parents and students, but the residents helping to foot the project’s bill.

“Without the support and willingness to sacrifice your time, talents and money none of this would be possible,” Lemke said.

Everyone has a job in the upcoming project, Preston Euerle of RA Morton Construction told the students.

“Yours is to be patient during the construction, learn by watching and have fun while we do this,” Eurle said.

After short speeches by district administrators and construction officials, student representatives grabbed shovels and donned hard hats, digging into Cleveland’s playground gravel to symbolize the project’s groundbreaking.

Their audience — including fourth graders currently attending McKinley Elementary — took in the event with cheers and a rendition of the Cleveland school song.

“This year you’ll witness a beautiful addition being built to your school and next year, you’ll be the first students and staff to attend school or work in this new facility. I’m happy to be a part of it with you,” Colbeck said.

Construction on Cleveland Elementary is being funded by a $32.5 million referendum passed by Fergus Falls residents in May.

District administrators and architects from ATS&R are continuing to tweak the design for the middle school, which will eventually house sixth through 12th graders.