Arnolds Park Area Insights

Welcome! Okoboji Community School District is a place where we are Pioneering Pathways for Every Student. Okoboji has so much to offer all students: high academic standards, strong athletic and fine arts programs, and much more. This community should feel Proud to Be piONEers who are Outstanding and Optimistic and encourage Opportunity for ALL.

If you are new to the district, we look forward to providing your children with a challenging education from teachers who build academic competence, encourage innovation and collaboration, and teach with passion in an atmosphere where students are valued, celebrated, and challenged.

We are so thankful for the many parents involved in Pioneer Parents and other organizations that are engaged with our children’s education. It is our hope you will be an “all in” parent/guardian/community member/community leader for your child and every child in our district. It is “Team Okoboji.”

To learn more about the Okoboji Community District, please call 712-338-4757. We are committed to keeping our kids safe and giving them our very best.

Thank you for your support!

- Todd A. Abrahamson, Superintendent

Check out these You Tube videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4E8vyEcqsQ&index=1&list=PLgY3oyulYPWoBiQcIm5A-273dr2fDJRhp

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXTeIuB-72c&index=2&list=PLgY3oyulYPWoBiQcIm5A-273dr2fDJRhp

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Sunshine Foods, located on Highway 71, is Milford's only full service supermarket offering Fresh Produce - Butcher Fresh Meats - Deli - Kitchen

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Here's the scenario. You are building a house or remodeling your house. Material costs are up. Labor costs are up. You ask yourself, where can I save a buck? Before answering this question, you must be careful, especially if your home is located in an area where other quality homes are built, whether on the lake, off the lake, or in higher valued developments such as golf course developments, etc. Growing up in construction and with a plethora of new construction and remodels under my belt, let me share with you some of the easy things that your future buyers will recognize when they are looking for quality.
1. One of the first things buyers of higher end homes will look for is to determine if the owner used hollow core doors. It's an immediate sign that the seller was looking for ways to save money (where else then did they cut back that I can't see???)
2. The second most obvious is the counter tops. Did the sellers spend for a quality granite, quartz, or other hard surface, or was formica used?
3. The third item that might stick out is the cabinetry. Do the drawers have dovetail construction with hardwoods? Did they use "soft close" drawers? Are there pull outs for the pots and pans?
4. Flooring is an easy one also. Was laminate used, or is it engineered or hardwoods? Does the carpet convey a quality feel and plushness? Is there a nice thick pad underneath the carpet?
5. Though there are many other items to look at, cheap vs quality lighting and plumbing fixtures are probably the next major focus.

There is nothing wrong with with using lower cost materials, especially when trying to keep a project within budget, especially when trying to build more house for less money. Just be aware that most buyers looking to spend in excess of $300k for off lake homes and $500+ for East Lake chain homes, and $1M+ for West and Big Spirit will expect the very best materials and finishes.

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