Groundwork underway at new school site

CHISHOLM — Contractors with heavy equipment have started groundwork at the future site of a new preschool through grade six building in Chisholm.

"It's gotten off to a good start as we wait on the state plan review," Chisholm School Superintendent Mark Morrison told the Mesabi Tribune on Tuesday.

Morrison pointed out the contracts have been digging out rocks and refilling the site to prepare for the building's foundations.

"We will look at starting some utility work in the coming weeks," Morrison noted, adding he anticipates construction to ramp up next month.

A timeline for the project presented to the board earlier calls for construction to begin this spring, a steam to hot water conversion at the high school in Summer 2025, completion of the addition December 2025, demolition of Chisholm Elementary spring/summer 2026, east side parking lot work Summer 2026, and final completion late August 2026.

Plans call for the Chisholm Elementary (fourth through sixth grade), located across from the high school to be torn down, and closure of the Vaughan-Steffensrud Elementary (preschool through third grade) on the north side of town.