From teachers to facilities, the Coon Rapids-Bayard (CR-B) Community School District is ready for its halls to once again be filled with the hectic energy of a new school year when students return next week. Their summer projects included refinishing the CR-B gymnasium floor and freshening up hallways and classrooms. Superintendent Eric Trager says they held off on anything more significant as school officials began preparing for large-scale renovations in the near future.
He stresses they are very early in this process, so they will not be ready to bring a referendum to voters during the upcoming city/school elections in November. Trager says he does not have a cost estimate to share yet, but it is likely it will be too large for the district to absorb into its annual budget without a bond. Unsurprisingly, Trager says CR-B has also struggled to fill open positions due to the labor shortage in education, but he says they’ve been able to adjust thanks to the quality and dedication of their staff.
New teachers reported on Thursday for orientation and training, and all staff are back on Monday, Aug. 21, for professional development. The first day of school is Wednesday, Aug. 23. CR-B invites students and families to join them Monday evening for their K-12 open house from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. With just a few days left of summer break, Trager has some last pieces of advice for kids as they prepare to head back.
To stay in touch with CR-B announcements and events or to sign up for their newsletter, visit their website at www.crbcrusaders.org.
