Hausmann Construction Selected To Build OCE School

Planning for the upcoming consolidation vote in November continues to move forward.

Boards from Orchard, Clearwater and Ewing met Wednesday night during a joint meeting in Ewing and selected, as recommended by the construction committee, Hausmann Construction as the construction manager at-risk, should the bond be approved by the public.

Nebraska Unified District Superintendent Dale Martin said it's important for the boards to utilize local services as much as possible, and Hausmann Construction was a good fit, considering it has many local resources and can also work with the aggressive schedule.

Clearwater board member Steve Thiele, who is employed by Hausmann Construction, abstained from the vote. Orchard board member Terri Hergert and Kristi Schutt, along with Ewing's Mark Ramold, were not present at the meeting. 

The special election will be Tuesday, Nov. 12, by mail-in ballot. If passed by voters in all three schools, the construction completion date is set for Aug. 2021.

If consolidation takes place, the three schools will officially merge on June 5, 2020. They would operate as they currently are through the end of the 2019-20 school year with Clearwater, Orchard and Verdigre as part of the Nebraska Unified District and Ewing on its own. Once consolidated — and until the new building is complete  — ​ each school would operate its own PK-12 building.

Board members approved a new board structure, pending passage of the bond. Each school would select two of its members for representation on the new board for two- and four-year terms. After the first cycle, Martin said board members would be voted on at-large.

Look for more details from Wednesday's joint board meeting in the Antelope County News newspaper.