Poplar’s Projects Include AC In Gym

The Poplar School District has been able to utilize Elementary and Secondary Schools Emergency Relief funds, commonly called ESSER funds, during the past few years.

One of the largest projects was creating a state of the art playground for the school’s elementary students. Cost of the project was $930,000. The Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund was established as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act or CARES Act in March 2020.

“We have the largest playground in northeastern Montana,” Poplar Superintendent of Schools Keith Erickson said.

He hopes to still have a new concrete sidewalk created for the playground.

The current large project underway is adding air conditioning to the high school classrooms and gym through installation of a new condensing unit for the high school gym and installation of Packaged Terminal Air Conditioner units in classrooms. Cost for the project is $480,000.

Erickson said the deadline for the air conditioning project in the classrooms is the first day of school. He feels the community and athletes will appreciate the air conditioning in the gym.

Another project completed was modifications to the middle school playground area into approximately 30 parking spaces. Cost was $331,000.

A current project includes replacing the galvanized pipes in the school.

Erickson also hopes to soon repair the elementary parking lot on the south side of the school.

Some discussed projects needed to be put on hold, including bus barn renovation, a learning center and expansion of the high school concession stand. The plan for the learning center was to create a 10,000 square feet addition adjacent to the middle school gym in order to provide additional resources to children.

“I still would like to pursue a learning center at some point, but it would cost a lot,” Erickson said. Estimated price is $4 million.