Todays News

Breaking ground on GMG’s future

Construction begins on district’s $12.3M secondary addition funded by 2024 bond referendum

GARWIN - On Monday, the first day of the 2026-27 school year began a bit differently for GMG secondary students in Garwin as the district celebrated breaking ground on its $12.3 million classroom addition with a public ceremony.

"It's the first day of school, so it's exciting from that standpoint. And as you can see, what's occurring behind us is also exciting,” GMG Superintendent Chris Petersen said just after 8:15 a.m. Monday morning.

While addressing the school's 7-12th graders gathered out front of the fenced-off east side of campus along Fourth Street, he was flanked by six of seven school board members (Doug Dieleman was unable to attend) along with secondary principal Clyde Tarrence and school business official Betsy Spaur. Nearby, a giant mound of dirt sat in what used to be the student parking lot located behind the main gymnasium.

"The start of this construction really is over two years in the making," Petersen continued. "If you remember, we passed a referendum in November of 2024. We'd had some early discussions on what [to do] with the (1925) building here that's pushing over 100 years old. And so we left it up to the community - we pushed a vote out to replace the academic spaces which (will be) 11 classrooms and a library in the new build."

Nearly two years ago, in the fall of 2024, the district managed on its first attempt to pass a bond referendum to fund the $12.3 million project, garnering supermajority support with 66.3% of voters (654) casting ballots in favor of the one-question public measure. No small feat for a consolidated rural school district with a significant number of open-enrolled students. Petersen, a shared superintendent with Baxter CSD, was in only his first full year at GMG at the time of the referendum's passage.

"We truly want to thank the community for their support in this," Petersen further told the crowd, which also included local residents plus GMG staff and a few parents. "They're the catalyst and the reason we're able to move forward with this project. So I want to give a huge thank you to our community and the support they've given us here."

Petersen then described the current state of the project which began in July with site preparation by Garling Construction. The district is also receiving support from SitelogIQ, a design-build firm first hired pre-election to assist the district with community engagement.

"[Soon] it'll get even more exciting," Petersen explained, "because our precast, which are assembled walls ... will start being delivered about a month from now. So in mid-September, you'll see a lot of big equipment. You'll probably see this road shut down, and they will bring the big precast walls in and start assembling that."

Petersen also addressed the project's completion slated for August 2027, just in time for the new school year.

"It's going to be great for you students because you'll have updated learning environments. Certainly this building has served its purpose for 100 years," he said before explaining how students will continue attending classes in the 1925 building during the current school year before it is "sealed off" next summer and demolished to create parking. In the meantime, he said, the football field parking lot, located east of campus at the end of Park Street, should be utilized.

In an email to the newspaper earlier this summer, Petersen wrote that, in addition to the outside prep work, some interior work was completed on the campus's 1950 building, including asbestos abatement and electrical work - putting the district "a little bit ahead for next summer."

Also in his email exchange with the newspaper, Petersen addressed road closures and traffic changes in and around the secondary campus.

"We are requesting some one-way traffic (along) Third and Fourth streets - which are on the east and west side of the school - as well as diagonal on-street parking from the City of Garwin for the duration of the construction project. This would be for about 9-10 months for this coming school year and would be a temporary request."

For the 2026-27 school year, the south entrance will serve as the school's main entrance.

Before turning the microphone over to the ceremony's student speakers Monday morning, Petersen closed with one final round of gratitude.

"I want to thank the board. I want to thank the community. This is really exciting. It's going to be great for learning and great for kids."

Student speakers

Following Petersen's remarks, a group of eight student speakers from varying grade levels were given the opportunity to briefly address the audience regarding what GMG means to them. Speakers included Hendrick Draper (seventh grade), Carter Mason (seventh grade), Triscety Hulin (eighth grade), Phoebe Hauser (ninth grade), Brody Bowers (ninth grade), Brayden Webber (10th grade), Bryleigh Bartel (11th grade), and Student Council President Gracie Deal (12th grade).

Mason kicked off the speeches by telling the audience, "GMG has been a part of my family for a long time. My grandpa and my mom went here a long time ago. It's just nice being part of something that has been in my family for so long."

Draper quoted "famous architect and educator" J. Max Bond Jr, proudly reading, "To build is to create a physical environment that reflects our highest aspirations for human dignity and potential."

Hulin expressed appreciation for how “comfortable” the teachers at GMG make her feel - a feeling that translates to increased learning, she added.

Hauser said, in part, "GMG High School is more than just a school to me. It's a place where I feel like I belong."

After admitting he was a little unsure of what to say, Bowers told the audience he was happy to be part of the GMG community, including the high school football team.

"I'm totally grateful for that," he said, drawing loud applause.

Webber talked about having "a really good experience" at GMG and said he hopes his little brother, a fourth-grader, will have the same experience, plus "new opportunities" because of the addition.

Bartel expressed appreciation for GMG's small student body, telling the audience, in part, "You can do basically whatever sport you want." She also said GMG's FFA chapter has given her a lot of good memories.

Deal, the final student speaker, partially echoed Bartel's remarks.

"GMG means to me community and support. It's not a school where you're just a number. You're truly known, and you're supported through your entire educational journey. The teachers and the students truly know you, and you get to do what you love here."

The student speakers were then given a "golden" shovel to ceremonially break ground on the new building. Wearing white hard hats and safety yellow SitelogIQ vests, they shifted around black dirt in a pile that had been pre-staged in front of the open construction gate. Later, members of the school board, along with Superintendent Petersen, did the same.

To end the program, the entire student body recited the Pledge of Allegiance before being dismissed by grade level to walk back up the Park Street hill and reenter the school building through the temporary main entrance.

Shortly after students departed, contractors got back to work, digging the foundation for GMG's exciting future.