WELLS — The United South Central school board has scrapped all plans for a remodel/addition in favor of pursuing building a completely new building and going to the Legislature and asking for a cooperative facilities grant.

Recently, at a regular school board meeting Aug. 16, the board had decided to move forward with a remodel/addition plan after looking at some additions. Most felt because of its lower price (originally around $16 million) it would be easier to pass than a new building (originally around $24 million.)

Board Vice Chairwoman Christie Wetzel said she had spoken with area legislators about the cooperative facilities grant and told the school board and more than 60 meeting attendees about the grant that’s available for consolidated schools. Several board members said the grant swayed their decision about which building plan to support.

Also, Superintendent Jerry Jensen had reported back to the board about the additions to the remodel/addition plan, which would bring that cost closer to $20 million. The extra costs toward the new building plan would bring that to closer to $28 million. The extra costs on the remodeling plan would include updating all plumbing, heating and ventilation and the addition of tennis courts, a new track and a bus garage. The extra costs on the new construction plan were due to changes to the school’s heating from rooftop units to a boiler system and the addition of seats to the auditorium.

The cooperative facilities grant is for consolidating school districts to build new facilities or remodel existing facilities. Up to $20 million or 75 percent of new construction might be available or up to $10 million toward a remodel might be available. Jensen said they found out about the grant since the last meeting, so it would be up to the board to consider the grant.

“It’s a long shot and that’s what the board’s going to have to decide,” Jensen said. “We owe it to our taxpayers to try.”

Of the large crowd of community members, four spoke in favor of the board pursuing building an entirely new building. No one spoke in favor of the remodel/addition plan or in favor of no referendum at all, which board members said they had gotten calls with those views. USC’s wrestling coach Marcus Eytcheson said he’s been involved in remodeling work before and that costs can dramatically increase when unknown problems are discovered. He was in favor of a new building that the community could be proud of.

“I’ll do anything I can to try and help the school get it passed,” Eytcheson said.

Wells resident Brad Heggen also appealed to the board to consider the new building plan, and that all landowners in the district should have to pay their fair share toward the school.

“All parties pay their fair share based on what they own,” Heggen said. “We would regret a remodel — our kids deserve better.”

Another speaker, Gary Hagen, likened the restoration plan to fixing up a totaled 1950s car, which still leaves the owner with a spruced up old car. Kristy Neubauer was another speaker who said she’s seen a petition with 400 names of people who want a new building, and the board should reconsider the rebuilding option.

After some discussion, board member Jon Feist then made a motion to rescind the board’s previous motion pursuing the remodel/addition plan. Board chairwoman Kathy Krebsbach said the possibility of the grant made her change her mind about the building plans.

“The grant does make it more attractive and much easier to explain to others with views that aren’t here tonight,” Krebsbach said.

After much discussion about how soon a building plan would have to be chosen, the board agreed it was best to pick a plan and get it to the Minnesota Department of Education for review and comment, which can take up to three months. The board agreed to go with the new construction option the community saw at a special meeting on Aug. 11, with the addition of more seats to the auditorium and different heating systems.

For now the board will put all its energies into pursuing the grant funding of up to $20 million or 75 percent of a new building. If after the Legislative session is done and no funding was available, the board may choose to go back to the remodeling plan or continue on with the new construction plan and hope a referendum would pass for either plan. If funding from the grant was available the board would be able to hold a referendum with the exact amount of any impact on taxes, for example, if $20 million was made available to USC, a referendum would still need to be held for the remaining $8 million toward a new school.

The construction plan chosen for building a new school would have two distinct areas. One area would be all classrooms that could be locked if there are events like sports games or concerts in the other area of the school. The public area would include the gym, auditorium and commons area. The new school would be designed to hold about 750 students; USC currently has about 650 students enrolled. The architects estimated the new building would last around 75 years. No land has been purchased yet for this option.

Look to the Tribune for updates on this story as they become available.