Al Dahlgren Selected New Chair Of St. Cloud Area School Board

ST. CLOUD - The St. Cloud Area School Board has selected their leader for the new year. Al Dahlgren of St. Joseph is take over as the Chairman. He was selected chair Tuesday evening.This is his first time leading the board.

Three board members lobbied to be named Vice Chair:  longtime board member Jerry Von Korff, and newcomers Jeff Polreis and Monica  Segura-Schwartz.  In the end, Von Korff edged out Segura-Schwartz for the position on a 4-3 vote.

Dahlgren says this will be an exciting year, with planning the new Technical High School at the top of the to-do list.

We have an opportunity in front of us to do something that hasn't been done in a long long time in this district. And, to bring this district into the 21st century as far as learning spaces is concerned. I'd really like to see it be a public celebration.

Dahlgren says there's a steering committee making early decisions about the new school right now. He says they're planning a ground breaking in July. The new Tech is scheduled to be open in the fall of 2019.

Dahlgren says another big project is the building of the new ECFE building. Groundbreaking on that building is set for early this spring, with it opening in the fall of 2018.

Dahlgren says, as for the current Tech High School, they have two years before the new school opens - so they have time to make decisions.

Beyond the very early planning and proposal to put the district office into the old Tech building, we really haven't moved beyond that.  And, we have a lot of time in front of us, so it really isn't a priority right now.

And, Dahlgren says with Tech no longer in limbo, they can also move forward with negotiations with The Friends Of Clark Field.

Eventually, now that we know we're moving the high school, we know that is a good possibility that we can transfer that field.  Either through a sale or a land swap to the group or to the city, to become a city park.

Voters approved a new Tech High School in November.