Here’s what $52 million did for Willmar Public Schools – West Central Tribune

Now, with work nearly finished, the projects funded by the referendum have brought about changes to every building in the district.

Referendum projects ranged from a $26 million elementary school to a broad array of smaller remodeling and maintenance projects. The district also budgets nearly $2 million of state and local funds to building maintenance each year, and that funding was used in some projects, too.

The work has alleviated overcrowded conditions in the elementary schools and provided more classroom space in other buildings.

Superintendent Jeff Holm started working in the district about a month after the referendum passed. He said he has been grateful to his predecessor Superintendent Jerry Kjergaard and the School Board at the time for pursuing the referendum.

Can you imagine what our challenge would have been (in the pandemic) if we still only had Roosevelt and Kennedy and needed to try to keep kids six feet apart? Holm said. I've felt very grateful to have a third elementary, and a very nice one at that.

Other larger referendum projects were $5.5 million science classroom additions at Willmar Middle School and a $7 million expansion of physical education/athletic facilities at Willmar Senior High School.

The building program included millions in maintenance projects that were past due. Jefferson Learning Center got a new boiler, and four buildings had roof work done. Several buildings, including the Area Learning Center in Garfield School, now have improved fire suppression and ventilation systems.

Aaron Pilarski, buildings and grounds manager for Willmar Public Schools, joined the district as work on Lakeland Elementary was ending, and he turned his attention to Kennedy and Roosevelt elementary schools.

I think that quality buildings reflect on a students education as much as other things, he said.

Kennedy and Roosevelt were well-maintained, but they needed some work. Roosevelt was newer, but Kennedy, which originally was a high school, looked dated, he said.

Both buildings were remodeled to develop collaborative spaces, and corridors were updated. Kennedy needed new windows and improvements to its exterior walls, too.

The Senior High had the biggest price tag among the existing buildings, about $12 million total. In addition to the gym expansions, the work included pool dehumidification, roof replacement and numerous building improvements.

The school was built in the mid-90s and hadnt had many updates, Pilarski said. Music rooms needed work, and an industrial technology expansion was needed to give those classes the room they needed for classes and projects.

The high schools classrooms are clustered around pods, which had never been redone. Remodeling of the pods added new furniture, carpet and paint. Students helped with designing the pods. Each has its own theme.

Pilarski said the referendum projects were done with an eye toward getting as much done as possible with the money available. He found there were some low-cost cosmetic improvements that could add to a buildings visual appeal.

You had to be really wise with it, because there was a lot we wanted to accomplish, he said. Im biased; I think it was really well spent.

School Board Chairman Mike Reynolds said he was impressed with the range of projects and just how well weve stretched our money.

Credit goes to many people, but especially Pilarski, he added.

Weve just done so much with so many things, he said. Our buildings are modern, they're up to date, and theyre safe.

Reynolds and other board members have commented that they hear comments in the community about how nice the buildings look, and they appreciate it.

Its nice to know the parents and community members take notice, he said.

Reynolds said the building upgrades might be noticed by families making decisions about where to send their children, too, but people make those decisions for a variety of reasons.

All we can do is keep making the product we have and the facilities we have top notch, he said.

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Here's what $52 million did for Willmar Public Schools - West Central Tribune