HAYFIELD—A newly renovated school means a new chapter has started for teachers, students and the Hayfield Community Schools District.

With much of the major renovations finished, with touch-ups here and there, Hayfield is ready to welcome students back to school next week. The cafeteria is vibrant and welcoming, a new Vikings logo adorns the main entrance floor that greets visitors, the elementary school got a complete facelift that brightened up the previously dim hallways and technology has caught up in the classrooms. The new School Age Child Care Center found its permanent home inside the building, with children already entertaining themselves with toys.

It was hard to believe that only a few months ago the entire elementary school was gutted and renovated as part of the two-year, $24 million building project that was approved in 2017 by the Hayfield Community Schools taxpayers. Yet, the community came together and moved the school facility forward into the future.

Around 20 students and six adults helped teachers move furniture back into their classrooms over the weekend.

Superintendent Gregg Slaathaug said the majority of the building was completed and that the school will be ready to receive students in time for the first day of school on Sept. 3 for grades 6-12 and Sept. 5 for the elementary school students. Those who haven’t been inside the school in months were stunned by the major transformation.

“The kids’ eyes were wide open,” Slaathaug recalled the reactions of students who helped move furniture. “Many couldn’t believe that this is the same school.”

Hayfield Community Schools taxpayers voted yes on a $14.3 million building referendum that provided major upgrades as part of the $24 million building project, with $10 million fixing infrastructure and classroom modifications. According to a previous story, around $4.3 million of the funds were used to renovate and expand the school cafeteria, install new security systems at the entrances, install common area upgrades and create a new school-age child care room.

Also received by the district was a $9.7 million low-interest Qualified Zone Academy Bonds grant from the Minnesota Department of Education, which has a zero percent interest rate and saved taxpayers around $4 million in interest over the bond’s life.

Now feeling the end of the project drawing near, Slaathaug said he was “relieved,” but wouldn’t rest until the last major renovations were finished before the start of school.

“It’s a big sense of relief,” the superintendent said. “It’s really close, and we still had to get there. But, it’s such an amazing change. I’m excited to see it done.”

Student becomes teacher, teacher becomes colleague

Inside her classroom, Johanna Bungum was busy unpacking boxes and sorting through various children’s books. The first-year second grade teacher was excited to be preparing for her 19 students and the start of her teaching career.

Having graduated from Hayfield High School in 2015 and receiving her bachelor’s degree from Winona State University-Rochester, Bungum always envisioned coming back to her hometown to become a teacher in the very same home district she grew up. After assisting as a teacher’s aide during her junior and senior year, Bungum knew that pursuing a career in education was meant for her.

“I’m excited with the construction and to come back as a teacher,” Bungum said. “I grew up in the community and needed to stay in a small town. Going to school here was one of my best memories. It’s interesting and kind of weird working with my former teachers as an adult.”

Bungum’s entire family lived in Hayfield and all attended school in the district. Having remembered what the old building looked like, the new teacher was stunned at the immense modifications that the facility underwent within the last two years.

“It’s a completely different school and it’s a night and day difference,” Bungum said. “I saw one of the construction videos on Facebook and it was completely different and a great addition. It’s phenomenal. It’s a great thing for the school and the community, too.”

Next door, her former second grade science teacher Donna Rutledge was also setting up her own classroom. She remembered Bungum being one of her students, as well as seeing Bungum for her student teaching hours last year. Now the two will be starting the new school year as co-workers in a new facility.

After teaching more than 30 years in Hayfield, Rutledge said that the transformation of the building was incredible.

“Our lighting changed so much in comparison to what it was before, and it changed the whole look of the school,” she said. “The feeling is gonna be totally different than what it was before and enhance student learning. We have updated technology and we’re going to be able to pull kids out into the hallway in our learning pods and work in small group settings. We as a district are very lucky that our community realized the need that we had as a school and they passed what was needed to get this beautiful building.”

‘Many don’t see this in their entire career’

Entering her 26th year in Hayfield, Molly Heydt was thrilled at the prospect of teaching her students with new equipment and supplies. The kindergarten teacher remembered how much the teachers didn’t expect state-of-the-art technology and new renovations, rather usually working with what they had.

She remembered the former layout of the school during the ‘70s, where there was an open space and classes weren’t in confined, separate classrooms. The walls that now created newly separated classrooms meant quieter times for studying and for doing activities.

This type of renovation was something that Heydt never expected, nor did other teachers. They shared feelings about the transformation and saw the positive effects of finally gaining additional technology and resources to continue strengthening their curriculum.

“I’m kind of in awe, “ Heydt explained. “We’re kind of used to taking what we had and didn’t expect extra stuff. We said ‘we can keep the tables, they’re still in decent condition’ but then we were told, ‘no, you’re getting new tables.’ We weren’t expecting new carpeting and new things. We have a pretty humble staff, and with cuts to education funding, we got used to not asking for too much.”

Her classroom was far along with supplies being unpackaged and posters being hung on the walls. Heydt motioned to a little tank where caterpillars were slowly munching on some leaves. She loves outdoor education and is excited for the opportunities the renovations presented for her kindergarten students, noting that none of this would be possible without the community’s support.

“That was huge to be able to support this project,” Heydt said. “It’s going to be different this year. I feel excited to see when the kids get here.”

Also preparing his classroom was Jeremy Struck, fifth grade teacher and head varsity volleyball coach. While he was working, Struck noted that the opportunity to see a major project like the one that transpired over the last two years was not something that many teachers can witness during their entire teaching careers.

“When you get hired, you’re thankful to get a job,” Struck said. “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity in a teaching career to see this type of transformation and to have a space like this. It’s clean, it’s cool. It’ll be fun for the kids. It’s a place where I can grow into for the rest of my career. Many bigger districts get a lot more resources, and not many small schools get to see that. It’s very nice to have that support.”