Blue Earth Area Tennis Association representative Susie Rosenau addresses the BEA Board, with two BEA tennis players: Brooklyn Rosenau and Grace Hanson.

A proposed new set of tennis courts in Blue Earth was the topic of quite a bit of discussion at the Blue Earth Area School Board meeting on Monday night, Feb. 13.

Some of it was good news and some not so good news.

First, BEA superintendent Mandy Fletcher gave an update on the Joint Powers Agreement between the school district and the city of Blue Earth for building eight tennis courts on land at the BEA High School.

The cost of the project has been estimated at $1.2 million for the eight tennis court complex. The proposed agreement was that the school would pay 60 percent of the cost and the city’s share would be 40 percent, Fletcher said.

“It looks like the city maybe wants us to incur more of the cost, and up our percentage,” Fletcher told the board. “I will be meeting with city administrator Mary Kennedy on Thursday, and I will learn more about the city’s proposal then.”

Part of the changes also involve how the city would structure the financing of the project, with the school making payments to the city over 15 years.

Besides the superintendent’s tennis court update, two members of the Blue Earth Area Tennis Association were present to give the board an update on their fairly new group.

Al Hanson and Susie Rosenau explained the history of their association and tennis in Blue Earth.

“Our association is like a booster club,” Hanson explained. “It was started in July of 2022.”

Hanson explained that the goal of the association is to help tennis, for all ages, flourish in Blue Earth.

“We want to help provide a safe place for kids to do this sport that they love,” Hanson said, adding that the current courts at Putnam Park are in very bad shape and are actually hazardous to play on.

“BEA has a rich history of tennis,” Hanson added. “I have heard others refer to it as a dynasty.”

He also reported that there were 29 boys out for tennis this past year, and 19 girls, for a total of 48.

Hanson and Rosenau also reported that they have applied for a grant from the Minnesota branch of the United States Tennis Association (USTA), which could be used to help support local tennis and the new tennis courts.

“And, there is a possibility the national USTA could make a grant towards the project,” Hanson added.

Rosenau explained they wanted to come to the school board and let them know what their group is working on for supporting tennis at BEA and in the community, and supporting the new tennis court site.

She also mentioned they had learned the cost of construction on the courts has been coming down recently.

In other business at the Monday meeting, the BEA School Board:

• Heard a report from the Facilities/Finance Committee that contained some bad news.

There is an unexpected major cost coming up which is a plumbing replacement project. Many of the pipes in the elementary/middle school building are becoming corroded due to age, are not functioning well, and need to be replaced.

The estimated cost to replace them is $1.2 million, but it is possible to do it in stages.

• Heard an update from Transportation director LeAnne Scholl, which included information about the increased cost of new buses, now averaging $125,000 each.

The BEA District has 17 buses, with eight of them over 12 years old. The district generally buys one new bus each year.

Scholl also reported that is difficult to find the 10-passenger vans the district uses.

• Approved a grant from the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation for $20,000 to help with the BEAS “We Belong” program which endeavors to engage those who may be disengaged.

• Heard an update from members of the school calendar committee, Ty Sturtz and Brian Kokos, who reported on the addition of a spring break and teacher professional learning days.

The board later approved the proposed 2023-2024 calendar.

• Approved the Faribault County Register as the official newspaper for the district.

• Approved donations for the fifth grade VIP program and the K-5 Buccy Backpack program.

Kwik Trip provided goodies for the fifth grade VIP Day, where the students could bring someone to school with them who is very important in their lives.

There were 14 businesses and groups which donated to the newly started backpack program. Fletcher reported there are now 97 students in grades K-5 who take part in the program that sends home quick, easy meals or snacks for the kids to take home for the weekend.

• Approved personnel items including a retirement for paraprofessional Sherry Stevermer and a lane change for school nurse Ann Crofton.

• Approved a resolution proclaiming February 2023 as School Board Recognition Month, with one board member, Mark Franta, voting no.

Superintendent Fletcher gave out appreciation certificates to all the board members.

• Heard a prepared presentation from BEA student Sophie Keister about her work with the Miss Minnesota Teen Volunteer Program.

Keister was ill and was not able to attend the meeting in person.

• Heard updated enrollment numbers from Fletcher. K-12 enrollment is at 1,027 students, down six from last October when it was 1,033. Fletcher said it is normal for the numbers to fall off slightly this time of year, for a variety of reasons.