NEW ULM – Superintendent Sean Koster told the District 88 school board staff is fine tuning the contract for the naming rights to New Ulm High School gymnasium.

Recently the school board learned of rising costs associated with athletic trainer fees provided by New Ulm Medical Center/Allina Health. For 30 years, New Ulm Medical Center’s Sports Medicine and Orthopedics Team provided athletic training services to the school. For a time, these services were offered for free but as New Ulm Medical Center saw increased financial pressures, the school was asked to pay a percentage of the fee.

Allina Health’s annual athletic trainer fees were $2,915 for the 2022-23 school year, are $20,000 this school year, and were set to rise to $31,500 next year.

Koster said the services were essential to the health and safety of student athletes, but the financial increase threatened the quality of services the school could offer. In looking into alternative methods of covering this increase, Koster looked at naming rights opportunities.

At the April 10 work session, Koster announced they were working on an agreement with Allina Health to offset this increase by granting Allina the naming rights to the gym. Once the contract is approved, the new name would be “Allina Gymnasium.”

Allina will receive special signage identifying the gym. Two “Allina Gymnasium” signs would be placed above the main gym entrances. Two sets of “Allina Gymnasium” graphics will be placed on the main gymnasium floor, one on each side.

Event programs would include a logo and the phrase “Our athletes are proudly supported by New Ulm Medical Center’s Sports Medicine and Orthopedics Team.” This phrase must be mentioned and displayed on all programs of sporting events hosted by the high school within the gymnasium.

Koster said Allina reviewed the draft contract for naming rights and recommended minor changes. Koster said he will meet with Allina next week to finalize the details and review signage options. The contract is expected to come before the board in May.

“This is a creative, sustainable step forward that supports students and the broader community,” Koster said.

In other news the board accepted with regret and appreciation, the retirement of two long term district employees, Cheryl Mathiowetz and Betty Uehling.

Mathiowetz served as a special education paraprofessional at New Ulm High School and has worked with the school since 1986. Uehling serves as the director of early childhood family education/Prekindergarten, at Washington Learning Center and has been employed with the school since 1992. Uehling’s retirement is effective Aug. 11.a