Superintendent, Bruce Klaehn, of Grand Meadow ISD Produces Informational DVD
A Must-See for Any School Considering Construction
September 21, 2004
by Freda Parker
"Been there, done that and here's what we learned." That's the message of a new DVD produced by Grand Meadow ISD #495. Hosted by Superintendent Bruce Klaehn, this easy-to-understand, comprehensive DVD visually documents the process that community officials and the 1000 or so residents of Grand Meadow, Minnesota went through in researching, getting the money for and building a new school complex of five Monolithic Domes. Call Bruce Klaehn at (507) 754-5318 to order your copy.
Early in his presentation, Klaehn explains that the purpose of this DVD is not to convince other schools to build Monolithic Domes. Instead, it's an aid meant to help them decide whether such a facility would meet their needs.
In essence, he urges others not to bother reinventing the wheel -- or, in this case, go through the long, costly investigative process that Grand Meadow went through. Others can make some preliminary decisions just by learning about Grand Meadow's experiences.
After all, it's now more than a year since the 350 students and 30 teachers in Kindergarten through Grade 12 of ISD #495 moved into their Monolithic Domes and some seven years since the community first began talking about a new school. That process first started in 1997 when Grand Meadow realized that their school, built in 1916 and renovated during the 1950s, 1970s and 1990s, was badly in need of more repairs. Klaehn said that changing academic needs, changing structural codes and time had all taken their toll.
So in 1997, Grand Meadow formed a Task Force to research the possibility of building a new school. It didn't take that Task Force long to conclude that new structures were economically impossible for their small, rural community. They began looking into renovating the old school. But while in that process, a resident brought the school board information about Monolithic Domes -- a concept that maybe, just maybe, they could afford.
The DVD documents Grand Meadow's process of delving into that possibility, as well as the questions they had and the answers they got. That process included extensive questioning of Monolithic Dome personnel, a feasibility study done by Architect Rick Crandall and visits to several Monolithic Dome schools already in operation. Result: The Task Force finds that Monolithic Domes have four very attractive advantages:
- Reduced Construction Cost - On their $12.3 million complex, Grand Meadow stood to save more than $1 million by going with Monolithic Domes.
- Reduced Operating Cost - With Monolithic Domes,Grand Meadow would save at least 25% on maintenance and energy, year after year.
- Improved Use of Internal Space - Dome designs would eliminate the need for long corridors and halls. Students and staff would be conveniently placed in or near the areas and materials they used.
- Safer Buildings - Monolithic Domes are impervious to any weather-related disaster.
Based on this, the School Board decided that it was worth asking the community to pass a bond issue that would get them the funding for a Monolithic Dome complex. A well-planned program meant to educate the community about Monolithic Domes followed. It worked and the bond issue passed.
The DVD concludes by showing the Monolithic Dome construction process -- an inflated Airform whose inside gets sprayed with four inches of polyurethane foam, reinforced with steel bars, and sprayed with four to ten inches of concrete. Klaehn points out that the concrete is on the inside, protected by the foam and the Airform. Consequently, it will be untroubled by Minnesota's weather and temperatures, well-known for their concrete-destroying abilities. Additional information includes data on the ingredients used in constructing the domes, their geothermal heating and cooling system, their acoustics and their warranty.
Klaehn then thanks his viewers, invites them to call him with their questions and wishes any school contemplating new construction the best of luck. He says that he hopes that what Grand Meadow learned and presented in this DVD will help them with their decisions.
Call Bruce Klaehn at (507) 754-5318 to order your copy or contact Grand Meadow ISD.
Grand Meadow Schools
710 4th Ave NE
PO Box 68
Grand Meadow, MN 55936
(507) 754-5318
Fax (507) 754-5608
Related Links:
- How To Buy a Monolithic Dome School-- A Letter to All Superintendents
- Monolithic Dome Schools: The Defense Rests
- Printable School Information Packet [PDF]
- Printable Sports Facility Information Packet [PDF]
- Thoughts on the Bidding Process for Construction of New Schools -- by David B. South
- Monolithic Domes Help Pass School Bonds
- Monolithic Dome School Pricing-- How Much Does a Monolithic Dome School Cost?
- Making the Grade
- Bait and Switch -- What happened in Hector, Arkansas
- Grand Meadow Hosts Grand Opening Of Minnesota's First Monolithic Dome School
- Grand Meadow, Minnesota--Year 2001 Update
- Free Educational Facility Project Evaluation
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