With practice and game space having become more limited with the sale of the Milroy Public School building and closure of the Ralco business in Balaton, Tracy Area Public Schools has entered into an agreement with Knochenmus Enterprises, LLP, to rent the gymnasium in Balaton.
The gym will be rented on an as-need basis, meaning the district can use it as often or as little as it wants.
According to the lease agreement, the lease will be for three years, starting on June 1, 2026, and terminating on May 31, 2029. Rent will be $100 per game and $70 per practice. Only the gym itself, foyer, concession stand and restrooms will be able to be used.
“We don’t need it in the fall, it’s more for winter and spring,” Activities Director Bill Tauer said. “We can use it a few times when we’re backed up in our gyms here. It’s nice to have a backup.”
Tauer said ideally, the district wouldn’t have to use the gym a lot, as it would rather keep events and practices centered in Tracy as much as possible.
“We’ll need it once in a while, but not very often,” he said. The school district promises and warrants that it carries liability insurance with a minimum liability occurrence limit of $1,000,000, according to the lease agreement and will be required to provide a certificate of insurance, as requested, throughout the term of the Lease.
In other business Monday …
• The board recognized filing dates for the office of school board member of ISD No. 2913 of July 14, 2026-July 28, 2026. Four members will be elected to the new school board with four-year terms on Nov. 3. Three Milroy School Board members are resigning, effective July 1, 2026. On that date, a 10-member transition board consisting of seven elected TAPS board members and three from Milroy will govern the consolidated school district for six months. In November, four at-large board members will be elected.
• Monday’s board meeting was the final one for District No. 2904. The first combined school board meeting for District No. 2913 will be Thursday, July 16.
• The board accepted the following donations: $250 to the FFA from Erbes Repair; $330 from Alicia Swenhaugen for a discus ring for the track complex; $200 from Jon and Tammy Haecherl for the elementary band: $90,000 from Joe and Doris Cauwels for the D&J Scholarships for the next 10 years; $100 from Cynthia Davis for baseball field lights; and $6,154.98 from the Softball Booster Club to go toward the softball complex project.
• The board recognized K-12 enrollment for May/ June, 2026 at 602, down from 643 at the same time in 2025.
• The board accepted the resignation of K-6 music teacher Shannon Benson and approved the recommendation of the hiring of Robyn Condelli as her replacement.
• Katie Medford has been hired as a long-term sub for fall semester at TAES.
• The board approved the FY27 preliminary budget and the Achievement and Integration Plan with partnering districts Marshall Public Schools, Wabasso Public Schools, Murray County Central Public Schools, Westbrook-Walnut Grove Public Schools and Red Rock Central Public Schools for July 1, 2026-June 30, 2029.
• The board approved a Minnesota Commercial Lease Agreement between TAPS and “Tracy Kids World” for 26-27 school year for $1,000/month.
• The board heard from Tauer and teacher/coach Billy Dean about the idea of putting a nine-hole frisbee golf course on the northwest corner of school property. The cost for nine baskets is $4,500. The board gave approval for Dean to reach out to groups for financial support.
