TGB Pledges Support for LCO Ojibwe School Construction and Repairs

Submitted by Jessica "Hutch" Hutchison LCO Ojibwe School Superintendent

In cooperation with the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe School and the DBS Group, the LCO Tribal Governing Board has unanimously approved 3.4 million dollars of Tribal American Rescue Plan funding to be dedicated to comprehensive repairs, remodels and expansion of 8 major areas of the k-12 school buildings and grounds.

Many of the areas in need of attention are 30 and 50 years old and have been identified in previous safety and facilities assessments, however federal funding and contractors able to do the repairs have been difficult to secure. Additionally, the work, which is slated to begin in early August and completed by April of 2022, will bring the school into Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility compliance.

Project areas include: Roof replacements and repair (elementary, gym cafeteria) , blocking replacement and repair, structural redesign of the exterior high school building including interior ramp, exterior weathering and repair of administrative entrances, gutter installation and repair, repair of middle school entrance, structural redesign of the existing greenhouse, glass and door replacements, sidewalk, grading and drainage facility wide, exterior painting, and expansion of the existing weight room.

All construction planning is being coordinated by the DBS group, the same company responsible for the efficient completion of both the new daycare and firehall projects as well as the tribal office expansion and repair project. Once completed the updates will bring the entire k-12 campus into a new era and will complement previous upgrades to the playgrounds, gym and modular building construction. Jessica Hutchison, Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe School superintendent stated, “we are grateful that the tribe and the TGB are in support of the needed updates and repairs to the school and grounds. This work will assure that all of our students have not only a safe environment to learn in from kindergarten through graduation, but one that is also state of the art and beautiful as well. I can’t wait to welcome the community back to see all the exciting improvements!”

Jason Weaver, Facilities and Grounds Director for the Lac Courte Ojibwe School and Superintendent Jessica Hutchison can be contacted with questions regarding the projects

Aerial Drone photos by Mark Lundeen