Whereas, School District No. 181 has acquired one hundred eighty-one acres in the City of Baxter,
Whereas, School District No. 181 is developing a school site identified as Forestview Middle School on said property, and
Whereas, a large portion of the 181 acre property remains undeveloped; be it
Resolved: that the Board of Education of School District No. 181 establishes Forestview Middle School Forest Management Committee to advise the Board on appropriate practices that enhance natural resources, educational opportunities, and community utilization of the site.
It was the unanimous decision of the Building Committee to approve members to serve on the FMS Forest Management Committee as follows: Bonnie Finnerty, Dean Makey, Pam Perry, Bud Reponen, John Sullivan, Dr. David Paul, Chelsea Holub, Andrew Sabir, Dalen Hodge, and Kent Montgomery.
The Natural Resources Management Plan for the ISD #181 Forestview Middle School is created by the FMS Forest Management Committee in July of 2004.
At the Brainerd School Board Meeting of September 13, 2004, Board member Lew Hudson reported that the Building Committee learned the FMS Forest Management Committee had created the Natural Resources Management Plan for the ISD #181 Forestview Middle School. It was the unanimous recommendation of the Building Committee to adopt the plan as presented, including the description and designation of Forestview Middle School forest as a school forest.
Application for School Forest designation is made to the MN Department of Natural Resources
In February, 2005, application was made to the MN DNR, Division of Forestry for approximately 60 acres of the Forestview Middle School property to become a part of the Minnesota School Forest Program.
On March 3, 2005, MN DNR Commissioner Gene Merriam, certified the 60 acres of Forestview Middle School managed by School District 181 are suitable for a school forest and certified the described lands are a School Forest.
School Forest dedicated at official ceremony
On May 11, 2007, at the Southdale parking area, the Forestview School Forest was officially dedicated and renamed the "Dean Makey School Forest". Presiding at the ceremony was Brainerd School Board Chair Kent Montgomery. Present at the ceremony were several members of the School Board and District #181, City of Baxter, MN DNR - Division of Forestry, and Makey's family.
