The Harlan Community School District’s Board of Education and Harlan Community Education Foundation met for the ground breaking ceremony at Merrill Field Monday, prior to the regular school board meeting. Construction is slated to begin on Tuesday, April 29th. Superintendent Justin Wagner said at the ceremony the education foundation has raised a total of $1.7 million for the project. Wagner said the increase in funding will go towards the three alternatives for Merrill Field.

“We had the upgrade to the bleachers. So we have the I-beam bleachers which were an upgrade, the safety lane which will go around the entire track and the sidewalk as well.” The ceremony on Monday was to honor the Education Foundation along with the city and other entities that have worked together on getting the funding for the project. The completion date for the Merrill field is August 22nd and Wagner says that’s when a ribbon cutting will take place. “And it will be a big deal because we are going to invite the Vision Iowa folks down and other partners such as city of Harlan, Shelby County Supervisors and the athletic booster club. There’s just a lot of great partners that on August 22nd, we will take a moment to honor them.”

During the school board meeting, the board approved Thomas Cronin as a 5th through12th grade music teacher. Wagner said the position is a combination of a half-time position, a quarter-position, and a quarter- new position. Cronin comes from the Sioux City Heelan School District. And, the Harlan School Board discussed further, options on drugs and alcohol issues in the school district. The board is looking into adding classes in the Middle School with regard to drugs and alcohol, but nothing was approved. Wagner said further discussions are being held and the board will take action on the matter at a later date.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)