Then the bombshell fell.

The application was denied because of a little-known and seldom enforced rule that no building project could exceed $400,000 unless there were 40 acres available. The project cost also now had escalated to $800,000.

Last spring stakeholders from the school, coaching staff and alumni met with the project’s engineer SEH and grant writer Tim Johnson to discuss options. The result was a plan that would meet the needs of the track program and cost just over $200,000.

There would be a track that would extend a straight 100 meters or follow a regulation curve for a 200 meter distance. There would be practice areas for long and triple jump, discus and shot put. The track field would be drained properly. And, as part of the project the Little League diamond would be upgraded.

And it all would be available for community use as well.

The project could be completed by next summer. But to do this, fundraising would need to be complete. So far the Alumni Association has raised $70,000 of the total needed. Contributions have come from organizations like North Itasca Electric’s RoundUp program, Lions’ Club and the Blandin Foundation; from companies like Minnesota Power, UPM-Blandin Paper, and local businesses; and from fund raisers like the fall Whatever-a-thon.

With a clear goal, the Alumni Association is beginning a “Buy-a-Meter” project. For $50, donors can sponsor a one lane meter of the new track. If the track were fully subscribed, $200,000 would be raised.