St. Peter School District's 'Mend the Middle' project in design phase

Back in April, voters in the Saint Peter School District approved $10.965 million in funding to update learning spaces at St. Peter Middle School and improve the overall educational adequacy of that building. The entire project is referred to as the ‘Mend the Middle’ project.

While the progress on that project isn’t exactly visible at this time, District 508 residents can rest assured that the work on the project is moving right along as expected. Bids are expected to be let out soon and awarded in either late November or early December, with construction expected to take place over the summers of 2025, 2026, and 2027.

“The scope of the project is still the same as what our community approved (during the referendum vote),” SPMS Principal Jon Graff said. “The part we are focusing on now is the design piece of the project. We have a deadline of November for bids to be let out, and we’re starting to nail down a lot of the specifics for the project.

“The new HVAC work is a huge and important part of the overall project and how that goes will dictate a lot of how the project goes.”

According to Graff, the major redesign elements of the project are in the 7th & 8th grade science rooms, the art room, and the STEM rooms. There will also be work done to repair and replace leaky windows throughout the building as well as refurbishing existing classrooms, hallways, and common areas.

The following is a more specific breakdown of the major parts of the project:

Refurbish existing classrooms, hallways, and common areas with new flooring, paint, and finishes. Worn-out flooring, paint, and finishes in classrooms, halls, and our first-floor lobby space will be selectively replaced. Some of the original unused locker bays will also be removed. More electrical outlets will be added to classrooms.

Repair and replace leaking window systems. Windows with notable leaks will be repaired or replaced depending on the extent of wear and tear. This will improve the energy efficiency of our building and temperature regulation and help prevent water intrusion.

Add a new, central stairwell to improve student circulation and eliminate bottlenecks. The stairwell will allow middle students to travel between floors without having to detour around or pass through the early childhood wing on the second floor. This will reduce disruptions for our youngest learners and improve transit between classes and at the end of the day.

“We continue to strive to be on time and on budget with this project, and to meet the priorities set forth by this community with passage of the referendum,” SPPS Interim Superintendent Dr. Jeff Olson said. “The voters in this district made another important investment in education in this community, and it’s important that we provide them with what they approved.”

For more details on the Mend the Middle project, including updates as they become available, visit mendthemiddle.org.