Esko fitness center opening this summer

Esko superintendent Aaron Fischer summarized progress on the new fitness center at the district’s athletic complex Monday at the monthly school board meeting.

The weightlifting and other machines should be coming in May, and the furniture should follow shortly after.

“We’re right on the budget we have set, hopefully a little bit better actually,” he said.

Fischer plans to have an open house and grand opening in June.

Nathan Norton of ICS and Sal Bagley of Wold Architects & Engineers presented on the repurposing of the old fitness center into a flexible learning space.

“We had a pre-bid meeting today, seven contractors came in … good turnout,” Norton said. Sealed bids are due at 2 p.m. April 23, and Norton was pleased with the size of the contractor pool, which usually means competition should help to hold down costs.

Bagley showed the school board materials, colors and designs that have been decided upon. Fischer reminded the board they had only one more day to weigh in on any changes they would like to see, since the final design had to be ready to show to bidders to allow them to prepare for the bid deadline.