MONROE — The results of the community survey looking into school building options were revealed at the Monroe Board of Education March 9, and although participation numbers were high, results didn’t provide the board with a solid direction moving forward.
Bill Foster with School Perceptions, a survey and research company out of Slinger, was in attendance to explain results to the board and about 30 people in the crowd. A paper survey was mailed in February to district residents and provided a unique access code for those who preferred to complete it online.
Responses totaled 1,431, a rate of about 20%, which Foster said was a very “good, typical” response. Of those, 94% lived in the district. Foster said the margin of error is plus or minus 2.6%.
Survey results were broken down to “all residents,” “staff residents,” “parent residents (non staff),” and “non parent non staff.”
When asked whether or not to build a high school at a new site or add to the current site, results were decisive. About 62% said they would like to stay at the current site with renovations and additions, and just 18% said they would be interested in building at a new location. About 20% said they weren’t sure.
Option 1 was detailed in the survey and was recommended by both the Elementary Consolidation and District Facilities Committees. It looks to close Abraham Lincoln Elementary School and create a combined middle/high school serving students in grades 7-12. Its estimated cost is $86 million and would reconfigure Northside Elementary School and Parkside Elementary School to serve students in pre-k through third grade. Option 1 would convert the middle school to an intermediate school to serve all students in fourth grade through sixth grade. Music rooms, science labs and gym space at MMS would all be improved.
In Option 1, Monroe High School would see 144,500 square feet of renovations and an added 227,000 square feet to serve students in seventh through 12th grades. This building would function as two schools, with separate entrances and offices, but under the same roof. Specialty areas would be accessible and could be used by all grades. It would extend the life of the existing high school by 40 to 60 years.
However, when it came to those who would support Option 1 and the $86 million price with it, results were split, with 45% of people choosing “definitely yes” and “probably yes” and 41% of people choosing “probably no” and “definitely no.” About 14% were undecided.
Foster said those numbers meant the survey prediction for Option 1 would end in 55% voting no and 45% voting yes in any possibly referendum.
“It would be tough to move Option 1,” Foster said.
The survey clarified specific issues at the high school, including safety hazards, air quality including mold, non-compliant ADA issues and a sagging foundation, to name a few.
Foster discussed the possibility of building support for Option 1, which could involve lowering the costs or exploring a “phasing” option where part of the changes would take place in pieces.
“People like the plan, they just don’t like the price tag,” Foster said.
Option 2 detailed changes with an estimated cost at $81 million. In Option 2, Abraham Lincoln Elementary School would be updated and renovated but similar changes would happen at the high school. That option received very little support, with about 36% choosing “definitely yes” or “probably yes” and 42% choosing “probably no” and “definitely no.” About 22% were undecided.
The survey, however, did show backing for closing Abraham Lincoln Elementary School, with 57% of people in support of that, which Foster called “significant.” About 27% voted against closing the school and about 16% weren’t sure.
District Administrator Rick Waski said the “complex issue” has been worked on for the better part of two years, and the strong feedback in general is a good thing.
“I’m grateful for the participation,” Waski said. He and Business Administrator Ron Olson were scheduled to meet with construction management company CG Schmidt March 12 to discuss results and look at the options again.
Upcoming school board meetings will focus on the project, the fiscal plan and how to move forward, Waski said. The board will decide if there is flexibility with Option 1 and if cost savings exist.
Board President Dan Bartholf said he feels the board received some direction on what the community wants.
“Whenever you have results — it’s helpful,” Bartholf said. “Now, we have a lot of work to do.”
Waski said despite not receiving support for one clear option, some things from the survey were made distinct, like the support for razing Abraham Lincoln Elementary School. That school is facing issues and, if kept, would need major system improvements including the building exterior, plumbing, heating/ventilation and electrical work, among others.
“These projects are very expensive,” Waski said. “There is support for doing something, but Option 1 needs more support and even Option 1 needs to be looked at.”
The district has made the final payment on a loan that was funding updates to facilities 20 years ago and next year, the loan used to update Parkside Elementary School and MMS will be paid off. As a result, the debt portion of the school tax levy will drop.
“Forty-five percent of people did support Option 1 in some way,” Waski said. “There is a tolerance to do something — we need to find out what.”
Complete survey results will be made available on the school’s website.