Early Childhood Center Could be Built on Clark Field

ST. CLOUD - The St. Cloud Area School District is considering options for a new early childhood center building, including one that would place it at Clark Field.

Designs revealed by the district say the building on Clark Field would cost around $25.3 million. The proposed three level building would have 95,000 square feet of space and a 250 space parking lot.

Another possibility is to renovate the current Tech High School building to house the programs and district offices. This project would cost about $32.2 million.

A potential remodel of Tech High School would involve 107,000 square feet of space. The District is hoping to build a new Tech High School on 33rd Street South.

Both proposals would also have the locations be used for community education, district offices, and media services.

Early childhood programs used to be housed in the Roosevelt Building, which was heavily damaged by a fire last June. The programs were moved to Colts Academy in St. Joseph.

Clark Field was closed to Tech High School varsity football in 2012 due to mold concerns. In 2013, a $3.2 million project was proposed by the St. Cloud Tech Alumni Association to renovate Clark Field. The project was put on hold with the emergence of a potential new Tech High School.

During public comment, several residents said they would prefer Clark Field be updated for Tech varsity football to return to the site.

No action was taken by the district. The board says they will now work to communicate with the community and come up with more details and designs for the plans.