NEW GLARUS - Getting feedback from citizens Monday was the "first step" in helping determine the school district's future, according to board President Mark Romich.
The New Glarus school board held a special meeting for a repeat presentation of a school consolidation study and a presentation of the school district's maintenance and space needs.
With feedback on the options, Romich said the board can decide how best to go forward.
About 75 people attended the meeting, including many from the Monticello School District.
The immediate question before the public is how much money the New Glarus school district should invest in its present school buildings, given the option of future consolidation with the Monticello and Belleville districts.
"The question is not whether or not we are going to do something, but whether or not we are going to put more money into the 1962 addition (of the elementary school)," said interim New Glarus school district administrator, Dr. William Conzemius.
Romich said the presentations are available to the public for viewing.
Immediate safety concerns at the elementary school include moisture and electrical. The school deals with recurring standing water and mold issues requiring dehumidifiers and sump pumps.
In the summer of 2009, the school spent $37,800 to address some of the immediate problems.
The school has also reached its electrical capacity. Conzemius noted that an upgrade of the electrical system would require $65,000, or $120,000 to add more capacity.
An assessment of the elementary school building recommended a budget of $1.1 million to make all repairs.
The elementary school was originally built in 1958 for grades seven to 12, which included 166 students and 10 teachers. Additions were added in 1962 and 1999.
The school now holds 4K-sixth grades, 503 students and 43 teachers.
Both the 1995 high school and the elementary schools are now "literally out of space," said Dave Noyce, chairman of the Building and Grounds Committee.
Maintenance problems, especially at the elementary school, are "nickel and diming" the school district, he added.
Hallways are being used for storage, and storage spaces have been turned into classrooms.
Elementary art storage is now in the maintenance garage; a storage area, once a locker room doubles as band lesson room. The sixth grade uses the stage for band practice, with the teacher on a ladder.
Conzemius said teachers also struggle with getting enough state required prep time, and must share rooms. "Teachers on wheels" refers to the carts teachers use to transfer their work, because of the lack of teacher offices.
New Glarus' enrollment was 840 in 2006 and 891 in 2009; the district is ahead of its 2014 projection.
The Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance was asked in early 2009 to analyze the fiscal impacts of merging the school districts of Belleville, Monticello and New Glarus. The consolidation study was originally presented Sept. 21 in Belleville.
The study revealed that Belleville and New Glarus, both with growing enrollments, face space issues in the near future. Each is expected to increase by about 50 students. Monticello's enrollment is expected to drop by about 20 students, which could lead to financial stress from tightening revenue limits.
Under consolidation, the state would provide incentive payments over five years, totaling more than $12 million.
The Taxpayers Alliance also determined a consolidated district would likely be able to operate at about 5 percent less than the current sum of the three districts, saving an additional $2.4 million over four years.
The study also concluded that a new centrally-located high school would be needed, at an estimated building cost of $50 million.
The New Glarus school board held a special meeting for a repeat presentation of a school consolidation study and a presentation of the school district's maintenance and space needs.
With feedback on the options, Romich said the board can decide how best to go forward.
About 75 people attended the meeting, including many from the Monticello School District.
The immediate question before the public is how much money the New Glarus school district should invest in its present school buildings, given the option of future consolidation with the Monticello and Belleville districts.
"The question is not whether or not we are going to do something, but whether or not we are going to put more money into the 1962 addition (of the elementary school)," said interim New Glarus school district administrator, Dr. William Conzemius.
Romich said the presentations are available to the public for viewing.
Immediate safety concerns at the elementary school include moisture and electrical. The school deals with recurring standing water and mold issues requiring dehumidifiers and sump pumps.
In the summer of 2009, the school spent $37,800 to address some of the immediate problems.
The school has also reached its electrical capacity. Conzemius noted that an upgrade of the electrical system would require $65,000, or $120,000 to add more capacity.
An assessment of the elementary school building recommended a budget of $1.1 million to make all repairs.
The elementary school was originally built in 1958 for grades seven to 12, which included 166 students and 10 teachers. Additions were added in 1962 and 1999.
The school now holds 4K-sixth grades, 503 students and 43 teachers.
Both the 1995 high school and the elementary schools are now "literally out of space," said Dave Noyce, chairman of the Building and Grounds Committee.
Maintenance problems, especially at the elementary school, are "nickel and diming" the school district, he added.
Hallways are being used for storage, and storage spaces have been turned into classrooms.
Elementary art storage is now in the maintenance garage; a storage area, once a locker room doubles as band lesson room. The sixth grade uses the stage for band practice, with the teacher on a ladder.
Conzemius said teachers also struggle with getting enough state required prep time, and must share rooms. "Teachers on wheels" refers to the carts teachers use to transfer their work, because of the lack of teacher offices.
New Glarus' enrollment was 840 in 2006 and 891 in 2009; the district is ahead of its 2014 projection.
The Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance was asked in early 2009 to analyze the fiscal impacts of merging the school districts of Belleville, Monticello and New Glarus. The consolidation study was originally presented Sept. 21 in Belleville.
The study revealed that Belleville and New Glarus, both with growing enrollments, face space issues in the near future. Each is expected to increase by about 50 students. Monticello's enrollment is expected to drop by about 20 students, which could lead to financial stress from tightening revenue limits.
Under consolidation, the state would provide incentive payments over five years, totaling more than $12 million.
The Taxpayers Alliance also determined a consolidated district would likely be able to operate at about 5 percent less than the current sum of the three districts, saving an additional $2.4 million over four years.
The study also concluded that a new centrally-located high school would be needed, at an estimated building cost of $50 million.