Officials share vision for new elementary school

At the regular Monticello Community School District board meeting, June 23, Nick Duffy and Roger Worm, of OPN Architects, gave an update on the progress of the Elementary School project.

     For the exterior, Duffy highlighted the updated signage at the main entrance, as well as new colored glass panels that will help bring some extra light and color to the interior of the building.

     For the interior, Duffy showed various angles of the main office, the cafeteria, library and the academic classrooms/collaboration areas.

     Duffy also explained the use of the biophilia themed interior, where “elements of nature are incorporated to enhance student and teacher well-being and learning,” Duffy explained.

     Duffy touched on other interior components including: tactile learning panels in the cafeteria, a natural and soft color scheme, wayfinding of the corridors and co-labs with wood portal walls in the entryways, a learning wall in the cafeteria, a tree house themed stairway and catwalk to get to the second floor and the social stair and reading nook.

     Worm discussed the Commercial New Construction program and notified the board that they will have another round of building costs, this one “a little bit more involved”, by mid-July.

     To start the meeting, the board approved a motion to table discussion on the Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan. Brenda Leonard, with the Jones County Emergency Management, will be in attendance for the meeting, July 28, to provide more information.

     Before congratulating the state track participants, Superintendent Dr. Brian Jaeger presented long-time Express Sports Editor Pete Temple with a certificate of appreciation and a goodie bag, for all of his years covering the school board.

     The board also approved the 2025-26 Staff Handbooks, as well as the Intergovernmental Cooperative Agreement with Jester Insurance and a Resolution to participate in the Storm Protection Fun and Hail Risk Pool Fund.

     High School Principal Nick Schauf gave his report, highlighting the progress of putting new carpet in the high school and highlighting the work of the janitorial staff during the summer.

     The board also approved a few personnel items, including: Tim Lambert as the Summer Basketball Head Coach, Kolby Harms, Curt Tauke and Chance Manternach as Assistant Coaches for Summer Basketball and Todd Norton and Bruce Feuling as Co-Head Coaches for the Summer Soccer Camp.