MONROE - Safety and security were placed at the top of the list of needs to be addressed by members of the School District of Monroe Facilities Committee during a meeting at Parkside Elementary last week.
About 19 people, including teachers, principals and administrative staff toured the school with committee members Wednesday, led by Parkside Principal Todd Paradis.
Identification of proposed projects and issues within each school is a part of the advisory committee meetings scheduled for every first and third Wednesday of the month. The committee toured Monroe Middle School in early February. The prioritization of maintenance and structural needs will be conducted by group members to identify whether the district should request a referendum in November and determine how much funding needs to be requested.
Construction company CG Schmidt and Plunkett Raysich Architects LLP, both of Madison, spent months noting maintenance issues and future needs of each school. Both companies earmarked deficiencies, giving the district cost estimates and a projected time period before repairs would need to be completed. Some are urgent while others only require attention within the next decade.
Paradis began at the front door. He said drop-off options cause safety issues, primarily due to the congestion of cars on 10th Avenue.
"It's pretty chaotic, and there are safety issues," Paradis said.
Under a proposed plan, a 50-stall parking lot would be installed on the west side of the building. A drop-off area would be included in the lot. At the front where an overhang and one-vehicle roadway meet the sidewalk to the entrance, parking stalls would be placed at the building and the drive-thru area would be moved farther north, closer to the incline that meets 4th Street.
District Administrator Rick Waski said the current setup leads to safety concerns.
"You think it's convenient to have the drop-off right in front of the building, but from a safety standpoint, you want it farther," Waski said, noting traffic along 4th Street and 10th Avenue goes slowly, but kids getting out of cars could still be in danger of getting hit by vehicles as they cross the street.
Paradis said the entrance itself needs more security, something Waski had referenced before, namely with passage through the office. Rather than entering and turning a left corner to sign in, leaving the right hallway open to anyone who comes in unseen, every person would be greeted by staff right away. Though Waski noted previously district policy dictates all doors must be locked throughout the day, Paradis said Wednesday that Parkside frequently leaves one door open during school hours, making safety a concern.
Paradis led the group to a small gym which he said could be used as a multipurpose area in the future.
"It still gets used a lot," Paradis said, though he noted the room's worn conditions and less-than-optimal flooring.
Westside classrooms could be converted to a wellness center for staff and some additional rooms for teaching needs, the middle courtyard has potential to be made into a lunch space or fair-weather classroom and a computer lab on the east side of the building is easily changed, Paradis said as viewers made their way around the building.
The lack of unified HVAC was also a concern. Currently, Parkside runs on 28 residential-sized furnaces spread throughout the building and utilizes small air-conditioning units.
CGS Vice President Eric Schmidt described a proposed three-tiered renovation plan as a "living document," noting its intent was to be modified before a final decision can be made. Director of Client Strategies Sarah Dunn took note of committee feedback, with safety and security written at the top of a white display pad at the front of the group.
Monroe Activities Director Jeff Newcomer said he felt exterior aesthetics were important, agreeing with others who noted the outside safety as a primary concern. A majority of the group said the heating and cooling units were an important change to be addressed as well.
Schmidt noted that plans for roughly $2 million in improvements should include work while renovations are taking place. For example, he said if the ceiling were to be torn up for structural work, common sense dictates LED light fixtures and ductwork be done at the same time.
"It will never be this price again," Schmidt said.
Waski echoed the sentiment when discussing improved security, noting high costs but great importance.
"It'd be silly to update the front and not put a secure entrance in place," Waski said.
About 19 people, including teachers, principals and administrative staff toured the school with committee members Wednesday, led by Parkside Principal Todd Paradis.
Identification of proposed projects and issues within each school is a part of the advisory committee meetings scheduled for every first and third Wednesday of the month. The committee toured Monroe Middle School in early February. The prioritization of maintenance and structural needs will be conducted by group members to identify whether the district should request a referendum in November and determine how much funding needs to be requested.
Construction company CG Schmidt and Plunkett Raysich Architects LLP, both of Madison, spent months noting maintenance issues and future needs of each school. Both companies earmarked deficiencies, giving the district cost estimates and a projected time period before repairs would need to be completed. Some are urgent while others only require attention within the next decade.
Paradis began at the front door. He said drop-off options cause safety issues, primarily due to the congestion of cars on 10th Avenue.
"It's pretty chaotic, and there are safety issues," Paradis said.
Under a proposed plan, a 50-stall parking lot would be installed on the west side of the building. A drop-off area would be included in the lot. At the front where an overhang and one-vehicle roadway meet the sidewalk to the entrance, parking stalls would be placed at the building and the drive-thru area would be moved farther north, closer to the incline that meets 4th Street.
District Administrator Rick Waski said the current setup leads to safety concerns.
"You think it's convenient to have the drop-off right in front of the building, but from a safety standpoint, you want it farther," Waski said, noting traffic along 4th Street and 10th Avenue goes slowly, but kids getting out of cars could still be in danger of getting hit by vehicles as they cross the street.
Paradis said the entrance itself needs more security, something Waski had referenced before, namely with passage through the office. Rather than entering and turning a left corner to sign in, leaving the right hallway open to anyone who comes in unseen, every person would be greeted by staff right away. Though Waski noted previously district policy dictates all doors must be locked throughout the day, Paradis said Wednesday that Parkside frequently leaves one door open during school hours, making safety a concern.
Paradis led the group to a small gym which he said could be used as a multipurpose area in the future.
"It still gets used a lot," Paradis said, though he noted the room's worn conditions and less-than-optimal flooring.
Westside classrooms could be converted to a wellness center for staff and some additional rooms for teaching needs, the middle courtyard has potential to be made into a lunch space or fair-weather classroom and a computer lab on the east side of the building is easily changed, Paradis said as viewers made their way around the building.
The lack of unified HVAC was also a concern. Currently, Parkside runs on 28 residential-sized furnaces spread throughout the building and utilizes small air-conditioning units.
CGS Vice President Eric Schmidt described a proposed three-tiered renovation plan as a "living document," noting its intent was to be modified before a final decision can be made. Director of Client Strategies Sarah Dunn took note of committee feedback, with safety and security written at the top of a white display pad at the front of the group.
Monroe Activities Director Jeff Newcomer said he felt exterior aesthetics were important, agreeing with others who noted the outside safety as a primary concern. A majority of the group said the heating and cooling units were an important change to be addressed as well.
Schmidt noted that plans for roughly $2 million in improvements should include work while renovations are taking place. For example, he said if the ceiling were to be torn up for structural work, common sense dictates LED light fixtures and ductwork be done at the same time.
"It will never be this price again," Schmidt said.
Waski echoed the sentiment when discussing improved security, noting high costs but great importance.
"It'd be silly to update the front and not put a secure entrance in place," Waski said.