MFL MarMac MORE students propose entrance, courtyard projects

By Audrey Posten, Times-Register

Students from MFL MarMac’s MORE authentic learning class shared ideas for two school improvement projects at the March 13 school board meeting.

Karter Decker and Wyatt Powell proposed constructing a gateway at the entrance between the football and baseball fields, along with adding lighting along the driveway leading to the school.

According to Decker, the project idea came about when he, superintendent Dale Crozier and athletic director Erik Peterson visited Cresco to look at that district’s press box.

“They had a cool entrance to the stadium that you walked under that said ‘Home of the Cadets.’ It could be lit up in blue lighting,” Decker explained. “Me and Wyatt took that project and created our own. You’d drive underneath it. It would be big enough for school buses. Also, it could be protection for the ticket takers so they could stay out of weather.”

Peterson feels the entrance would give a sense of pride to people arriving for school or sporting events.

“It makes you feel like you’re entering the school rather than pulling into a spot,” he said.

Lighting along the driveway would look attractive and illuminate an area that currently has little light, making it more safe, said Decker. Pat’s Electric has quoted $45,000 for the lights, wiring and cement work for poles.

There is no official cost estimate yet for the gateway, though Peterson said one architect ballparked between $200,000 and $500,000.

“I said that must be pretty elaborate—we’re probably not on that end. But it’s not cheap given the span and price of materials,” he added.

There would be some seed money, though. Decker said he’s already contacted previous classes who have funds left in their accounts, and they’ve pledged a combined $14,000 to the project. Donators would get a plaque on the archway, he noted.

Seniors Will Koether and Hunter Meyer also presented a project to renovate the school courtyard. The goal, said Meyer, is to make the space more useful and easier to maintain.

First on the to-do list is filling in the pond, which currently leaks.

“Our goal is to drain it out, cut the liner, pull the liner out and fill the rocks in,” Koether said. “What we need to do is take the rocks, put them in the bottom, layer clean gravel on top of it, then put dirt on top of that. Then you can grow grass.”

The next step is to create a patio area or patio/gazebo mix that would provide shelter. Wooden picnic tables in the courtyard, which are difficult to maintain, would be replaced with metal versions or a more durable material.

“We talked about having supervision out there during lunch periods. Then students can utilize the space,” Koether said. “Right now, it’s very underutilized. It’s not helpful if people aren’t out there actually enjoying the space.”

Additional plans include removing the bridge, which is not handicap accessible, and filling in the ditch with a concrete path everyone can use. 

Koether and Meyer also discussed trimming back the courtyard trees, which have grown too big and deposit a lot of leaves. With rock gardens and mulch, it’s difficult to rake those leaves.

“We’d like to trim them back significantly, so they are still providing shade and still out there to look pretty, but not as many leaves are falling down and they’re not as noisy out there,” Koether said. “They also are memorial trees. We’re not sure who they are memorial trees to. We’d like to find out and put signs out there so they are actually memorializing people.”

Lastly, there are plans to rehab nationally registered monarch habitat in the space, which is currently maintained by the horticulture class. The students suggested replacing the current milkweed with a shorter, prettier variety that blooms in the fall. They’d also like to add more native plants. All the plants would be trimmed down by winter to clean up the space and detract bees and mice.

Koether and Meyer hope student volunteers can help tackle some of these projects. They are also working on funding.

“We’re looking at grants,” Meyer said. “We know Walmart has some, and Tractor Supply. Also something for the monarch habitat.”