Mt. Pleasant school board adopts Carl Nelsen as master planning firm

MT. PLEASANT — At a regular session of the Mt. Pleasant Community School District board of directors the board approved an onslaught of resolutions aimed at summer renovations and normal summer business.

First, the school board approved the Carl A. Nelson company for its master planning and construction management firm. It came down to a close decision on the board’s part between Nelson and Estes group. Both had presented to the school board on numerous occasions.

According to school board member Kevin Sandersfeld, he felt that Nelson’s presentation was better and that they would get the planning without having to pay extra stipends.

“The biggest thing that stuck out to me one had a firm price, and one had a sliding wheel with a lot of things attached to it,” Sandersfeld said.

Meanwhile, board member Angie Blint was leaning toward the visionary and abstract aspect of Estes group. With their CLEO Building assessments and planner the group gives a 20-year plan on how to improve learning spaces.

“Estes seemed like we were starting with a blank slate, and they were going to help us think of things we’ve never thought of. It seemed a little more open and had more of a free flow of ideas,” said Blint.

Multiple board members said either choice is a “good one.”

“They both have very strong points, I don’t think there is a bad decision,” Sandersfeld said.

Lot purchase

The board also approved the purchase of the parking lot on 404 N. Lincoln St., a vacant city lot that is across from the middle school. With the city’s and school board’s approval, the lot is inching closer to closing, but Superintendent John Henriksen said he would not be comfortable moving forward with construction or pavement just yet, instead waiting for engineering to come back.

Board elections

In other news, Henriksen briefly discussed school board elections that are coming up this fall.

There are three board members up for election, Kevin Sandersfeld (District 1), Martha Wiley (District 2) and Willy Amos (District 5).

Martha Wiley said she won’t be running for reelection this year, instead she will let her term expire this fall. Neither Sandersfeld nor Amos have said if they are planning to run for reelection.