To keep working toward that goal, Superintendent Justin Daggett said the district is planning a major renovation project at the district’s elementary site in Barnum. Once finished, he said the $2.475 million project will result in a safer and more secure building for students and staff.

But the first step will be fixing a chronic drainage problem.

“Having been a principal there for five years, and been in the district for 14, the drainage of the whole site is horrendous,” Daggett said. “Everything pools at our playground, and our playground is under water for a majority of the year — or it’s an ice rink and our kids can’t access it.”

To address the problem, he said the playground area will be raised and moved closer to the south side of the building. New tiles will be put in to take care of the water issues, and the whole site will be regraded.

-Messenger photo by Deanna Meyer
Kim Neumann, school nurse at Manson Northwest Webster Elementary, works in the school’s main office Dec. 17, 2025, in Barnum. The school office will be moved closer to the front entrance, while this area will become a conference room when renovations are complete this summer.

“We’re fixing all the drainage,” said Daggett, “to have everything drain away from the building.”

Moving the playground also makes the area safer for students, as currently an access road for delivery vehicles runs between the school and the playground.

“Right now, the garbage truck, semis when they unload commodities, they all drive right here,” Daggett said. “At the same time, we’ve got kids trying to get to (the playground).”

Instead, he said the elementary playground will be fenced in, with a paved road running around the outside. This means students and staff won’t have to worry about watching for vehicles before crossing to the playground.

He said another plus will be the addition of low-maintenance turf so kids can be on the playground year-round. The district is also getting all new playground equipment, which is being paid for with separate funds.

Another key component to the elementary project is a major front office renovation and the creation of a more secure entrance.

While the district already has a secured entrance that requires visitors to be buzzed in during the school day, Daggett said it’s not enough.

“What we are uncomfortable with is not being able to funnel people through the office, because worst-case scenario, someone gets buzzed in and they could go right down that hallway undeterred,” said Daggett, referring to the area that houses kindergarten, first- and second-grade classrooms.

With the renovation, a new separate entrance will be added to the left of the current main doors, leading visitors into a vestibule area. From there, they will be buzzed into the office. New steps and an ADA ramp will also be added to the entry.

A new canopy will ensure visitors immediately know where the main entrance is located.

“It provides from the street level a very clear main entrance,” Daggett said. “It will also provide some cover. We get a lot of leaves and a lot of snow piled right in front of the main door.”

Meanwhile, the main office area is being reconfigured so the principal’s office is more central, and the front office staff will have a clear view of the lower elementary hallway. The nurse’s office will be moved to a location that includes a bathroom, while the current nurse’s and principal’s offices will become a conference room.

An old bus barn that isn’t long enough to house today’s buses will also be demolished.

“Our plans throughout the years have really evolved in both buildings,” said Daggett, “but I feel really good about our final design. It’s just going to be so much more efficient.

“The elementary building is already a beautiful building,” he continued. “I think it’s just going to be awesome. I’m really excited for it.”

Work on the renovation project is scheduled to begin in April with a goal of having everything completed before school starts in the fall. The district has hired Jensen Builders Ltd., of Fort Dodge, to do the project.

“Jeff Hansen, our maintenance director, is phenomenal at staying on top of all of that stuff,” Daggett said. “We have a really good working relationship with Jensen, really good lines of communication. So I anticipate when problems arise — and they always will — they’ll be solved swiftly. We won’t have any lingering delays, if the weather will cooperate.”

A physical plant and equipment levy bond, which has been authorized by the school board, is being used to pay for the project. PPEL funds can only be used for technology, transportation, building improvements and equipment.

“We’re borrowing against future revenue for that, so it’s not going to raise property taxes,” Daggett said.

This project builds on other work the district has already done. Last year, an east addition was added to MNW Junior/Senior High School, which included an electrical room, dressing rooms and band storage area.

Daggett said the district also continues to make incremental progress at the athletic complex, which this year included a new fence and sidewalk.

Small but successful

In the area of enrollment, MNW was down 26.5 students from last year, Daggett said, bringing current enrollment to 690 students.

“Everybody in the state is down,” he said. “Our region is no exception.”

He said the main issue for most districts is that kindergarten classes are not as big as outgoing ones.

In spite of that, Daggett said the district is thriving in many areas.

“We did a high school musical for the first time in a few years. That was a real positive,” he said. “Two years ago, we didn’t have a vocal teacher and that program was on life support. Kelbi White (choir teacher) and Erica (Logan, band director) have really done a phenomenal job at building those programs up.”

Daggett said the speech program continues to perform at a high level, with one group taking top honors at the state speech contest last year. Meanwhile, he said the robotics team and First Tech Challenge are seeing success this year.

“Our school — as small as we are — the number of experiences and programs we’re able to give kids is really impressive,” he said.

In sports, Daggett said the football team has won districts two years in a row, while two individuals went to state in cross country this year. The dance team also competed at state, receiving first- and second-place awards.

THRIVE Academy

The MNW district is also unique in that it operates an alternative school called THRIVE Academy that serves 23 school districts, including students from kindergarten through 11th grade.

“We’re teaching the academics, but it’s always with social-emotional-behavioral health at the forefront,” Daggett said.

Each student enrolled comes in with specific goals, or areas they need to grow in.

“Our staff out there works with those kids to grow in those areas so that they can go back to their home district and have success,” said Daggett. “Sometimes we’re able to do that; sometimes we’re not.”

He praised THRIVE Principal Josh Seltz and his staff for the way they are able to help kids.

“We’ve got some real success stories out there,” Daggett said.

He said whenever a student is ready to leave, everyone lines the halls on their last day.

“Everybody’s clapping and cheering them on,” Daggett said. “It’s really a very emotional, very cool scene.”