ROTHSAY, Minn. - The awesomeness is underway.
Classes started Monday at Rothsay's $19 million pre-kindergarten through 12th-grade school.
Even with a few scheduling kinks to work out, Principal Staci Allmaras said Wednesday that the new two-story building has fostered a new energy among students and staff.
"It's fun to see the excitement this year," she said.
"The most often heard phrase is, 'This is awesome!' I've heard it from students, faculty and parents," Allmaras said.
The new school is near Interstate 94 at 2040 County Road 52.
The building has 91,000 square feet, nearly double the old school's 47,000 square feet, which included a patchwork of additions made over the decades to the original 1903 structure.
The space will come in handy with growing enrollment, Superintendent Warren Schmidt said.
Rothsay ended school in the spring with 267 students. This fall's enrollment now stands at 288.
Schmidt expects the growth to continue.
Something that's also been appreciated with the pre-Labor Day start of school: air conditioning.
The old school on Second Street in the city's downtown had no air conditioning, Almaras said.
"Those third-floor teachers, days like this week, got miserably warm," she said.
Teachers also said they were happy in the new building.
"I'm so excited to be going from a small space to a big, full classroom," math teacher Nancy Strobel said in an interview with the Fergus Falls Daily Journal. "It's going to be a lot easier for students to have more access and a better learning experience this way."
"We now get a lot of luxuries and little things that will make for less headaches," fourth-grade teacher Aaron Schindler told the Journal. "There's so much more space and possibilities."
Schmidt said the opening has been "fantastic."
The building, which has a capacity of 350 to 400 students, was expected to cost nearly $20 million, but it came in under budget, so the $19.4 million bond issue paid for all of the costs.
"There's a real sense of pride developing among the kids and the community now," Schmidt said. "They're very proud of the building."
The new facility was approved in a bond referendum in May 2013. Construction began in early 2014.
In June, the School Board agreed to tear down much of the old school, with the exception of the gym, band room, locker rooms, science room and stage. An agreement is being worked out to give what remains standing to the city for offices and community use, Schmidt said.
In return, the district would get to use the facility for tournaments and other events, he said.
The district also closed the Storefront, which had been a hardware and grocery store run by students, Schmidt said. The building and lot on Main Street are for sale, he said.
Preschool through fourth-grade classes are on the first floor of the new school. Fifth- and sixth-graders are grouped together on one wing of the second floor, while seventh- through 12th-graders use the rest of that level.
Almaras said a child-care program for 3- to 5-year-olds will be offered for a fee starting Sept. 21.
A dedication ceremony is expected to be held during Homecoming Week, she said.
1/21: Band teacher Heather Reber directs the National Anthem during class Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, at the new Rothsay (Minn.) Public School. Michael Vosburg / Forum Photo Editor
2/21: A class walks through the main hallway Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, at the new Rothsay (Minn.) Public School. Michael Vosburg / Forum Photo Editor
3/21: Kindergarten teacher Ashton Fuhs leads a class Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, at the new Rothsay (Minn.) Public School. Michael Vosburg / Forum Photo Editor
4/21: Kristie Sullivan teaches both English and business in her classroom Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, at the new Rothsay (Minn.) Public School. Michael Vosburg / Forum Photo Editor
5/21: The gynmasium is seen Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, at the new Rothsay (Minn.) Public School. It is large enough for two basketball courts. Michael Vosburg / Forum Photo Editor
6/21: Students get instruction on using the new weight room Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, at the new Rothsay (Minn.) Public School. Michael Vosburg / Forum Photo Editor
7/21: Students work in Miss Strobel's room during the second day of class Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, at the new Rothsay (Minn.) Public School. Michael Vosburg / Forum Photo Editor
8/21: Instability chairs have proven to be populat Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, at the new Rothsay (Minn.) Public School. Michael Vosburg / Forum Photo Editor
9/21: Many desks and tables are designed to fit together Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, at the new Rothsay (Minn.) Public School. Michael Vosburg / Forum Photo Editor
10/21: Upper classmen can use this student work area Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, at the new Rothsay (Minn.) Public School. Michael Vosburg / Forum Photo Editor
11/21: The science classroom has some old tables and new work stations Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, at the new Rothsay (Minn.) Public School. Michael Vosburg / Forum Photo Editor
12/21: The Rothsay (Minn.) Public School offers both preschool and childcare Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015. Michael Vosburg / Forum Photo Editor
13/21: A class has their names posted outside their room Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, at the new Rothsay (Minn.) Public School. Michael Vosburg / Forum Photo Editor
14/21: Two 3-D printers stand ready Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, at the new Rothsay (Minn.) Public School. Michael Vosburg / Forum Photo Editor
15/21: The music room stands out as a new amenity Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, at the new Rothsay (Minn.) Public School. The class was held in the library of the old school. Michael Vosburg / Forum Photo Editor
16/21: The tech room as seen Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, will be used by the robatics class at the new Rothsay (Minn.) Public School. Michael Vosburg / Forum Photo Editor
17/21: A stage stands in a practice gym Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, at the new Rothsay (Minn.) Public School. Michael Vosburg / Forum Photo Editor
18/21: The cafeteria seen Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, at the new Rothsay (Minn.) Public School, is much larger than that of the old school. Michael Vosburg / Forum Photo Editor
19/21: The media center includes reading space Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, at the new Rothsay (Minn.) Public School. Michael Vosburg / Forum Photo Editor
20/21: The preschool playground is visible from Interstate 94 on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, at the new Rothsay (Minn.) Public School. Michael Vosburg / Forum Photo Editor
21/21: The elementary playground is seen Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, at the new Rothsay (Minn.) Public School. Michael Vosburg / Forum Photo Editor
Helmut Schmidt is a reporter for The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead's business news team. Readers can reach him by email at hschmidt@forumcomm.com, or by calling (701) 241-5583.
