12-05-2025
Mitchell Board of Education to consider construction bid for Mitchell Tech power line training facility
May 11—MITCHELL — A new training facility on the campus of Mitchell Technical College could take another step toward reality Monday when the Mitchell Board of Education considers a bid for construction of the proposed facility.
The board is scheduled to meet Monday, May 12, in Room 10 at the Mitchell Career and Technical Education Academy. The meeting is set to begin at 5:30 p.m.
According to the agenda for the meeting, bids were opened for a new 34,000 square-foot power line underground training facility on April 22. The district received eight bids for the project, which ranged in cost from $4,483,031 from Gil Haugan Construction of Sioux Falls to $5,396,300 from Henry Carlson Construction, LLC. Joe Childs, superintendent for the Mitchell School District, recommended in his agenda notes that the board accept the Gil Haugan Construction bid.
"Eight bid proposals were submitted, all coming in under budget. I recommend the acceptance of the bid from Gil Haugan Construction in the amount of $4,483,031," Childs wrote.
Other bids received for the project included a bids of $5,060,700 from Peska Construction, Inc., $4,981,500 from Lloyd Construction Company, $4,956,000 from NuAge Construction, $5,552,000 from Beck and Hofer Construction, $5,114,000 from Schmitz Construction and $4,734,227 from Puetz Design and Build. Those bids include the base bid and alternates.
The Powerline Underground Building will be a cable equipment training facility on the Mitchell Technical College campus. The school announced in September that it expected the new facility would give a boost of about 75 jobs in the region.
In addition, students in the Powerline Program will gain the advantage of a modern educational environment for their studies that will be accessible year-round, including during frosty South Dakota winters when the ground is frozen.
The new facility is expected to be completed in the summer of 2026.
Also at the meeting, the board is expected to consider the following personnel moves:
* The new certified hires of Kelsey VanLoah, assistant 8th volleyball coach, $2,397; Jeremy Borgan, head 7th grade football coach, $3,237 and Abby Brunsing, head 8th grade volleyball coach, $2,876. All hires are effective for the 2025-26 school year.
* The transfer of Kayla Hohbach, 9-month para to 12-month position, effective June 1.
* The resignation of Trista Herren, paraeducator at Gertie Belle Rogers Elementary, effective May 23.
* The retirement of Deb Briggs, custodian at Mitchell Middle School, effective May 23.
* The new Mitchell Technical College hires of Ryan Anderson, diesel power technology instructor, $72,000, effective Aug. 1; Alison Day, general education instructor, $61,000, effective Aug. 1; Jacob Doering, summer welding intern, $18 per hour, effective May 12; Lauren Hofer, summer LPN simulation tech, $15 per hour, effective May 12; Mercedes Jarding, summer LPN simulation tech, $15 per hour, effective May 12; Sydney Storm, financial aid — assistant director, $5,073 ($52,000 prorated until June 30), effective May 12 and Tessa Weidenbach, summer welding intern, $18 per hour, effective May 12.
* The Mitchell Technical College retirement of Mike Puetz, power line construction and maintenance instructor, effective May 31.
Also at the meeting, the board is expected to:
* Enter into executive session for the purpose of preparing for contract negotiations or negotiating with employees or employee representatives.
* Consider approval of K-12 salaries for the 2025-26 school year for administrators and personnel not included in the MCEA or MEA agreements.
* Consider approval of the Mitchell School District and MCEA negotiations.
* Consider approval of the comprehensive special education plan for the district for the 2025-26 school year.
* Hear board member reports.
* Hear the superintendent report, including information regarding equipment salvage and demolition of the current Mitchell High School building.
* Recognize accomplishments of several student organizations, including HOSA, FBLA, Skills USA, FFA, Pro Start, FCCLA, Robotics and Educators Rising.
The meeting is open to the public. The Mitchell Republic will livestream the meeting on its website.
