NEW GLARUS — Students, faculty, administration and other local officials ceremonially broke ground on the football field for New Glarus School District’s new Primary School on Monday, Oct. 16.

The Primary School will be connected to the current Elementary School near 14th Avenue.

The ceremony included the entire elementary school, the high school band, School District and Village Administration, School Board members, Bray Architects, Kraemer Brothers Construction, and legislators.

Superintendent Jennifer Thayer led the ceremony, with remarks made by School Board President Bill Oemichen, Andrew Kerr from Bray Architects, and Kyle Kraemer from Kraemer Brothers Construction. All speakers thanked the community for passing the referendum for the Primary School, and were thankful that after four years of planning and a few challenges along the way, the School District is breaking ground on the new school.

Members of the elementary school staff who were involved in the planning, as well as some of the district’s youngest students who will get to move into the building in December of next year, were the first to put on hard hats and break ground for the new school as the band played the school song in the background. 

Next they turned over their shovels to School Board members, School District Administration, Village Administrator Lauren Freeman, and Representative Mike Bare and Senator Diane Hesselbein so they could break ground as well. 

The ceremony ended with a final song by the band.

The construction for the new Primary School will begin immediately, and is expected to be completed in December 2024.

NEW GLARUS — The New Glarus District will be relocating the football/soccer field to be across from the high school and have created a long-term master plan. To turn the master plan vision into a reality, the New Glarus Glarner Community Field Committee has been formed. 

Recognizing the limited budget of the school district, the committee, consisting of community members, coaches, and organizational leaders, is leading a fundraising campaign to enhance the complex and achieve the project goals.

When the master plan was created, the District engaged staff and community members to create a vision for a long-term plan that includes a versatile outdoor sports and community complex. This multi-purpose complex aims to provide a safe, comfortable, and modern venue for year-round classroom activities, sports, and regional events, benefiting students, athletes, fans, and the entire Knight’s community. Specifically, the master plan has five main goals: modern facilities, a welcoming community plaza, retaining and attracting families, staying competitive, and providing versatile facilities.

●  Modern Facilities: With the addition of turf, the complex would provide a safe and reliable playing surface for all athletes. It ensures they can perform at their best, in varied weather conditions, while reducing the risk of injuries. It will allow increased use of space that is relied on daily without needing to rest, being able to be used for both games and practices. It will also have extended timing with lights for early spring and late fall nights.

●  Welcoming Community Plaza: The complex is going to be much more than a sports arena, it will be a gathering place for the entire community. The community plaza will offer space for events, socializing, and creating lasting memories, fostering a sense of belonging for families in the district and the greater community.

●  Retaining and Attracting Families: Nothing brings families together like the excitement of high school sports. With our modern complex, the committee believes the upgrades will draw in new families and retain existing ones, enhancing the sense of community and boosting enrollment numbers. An overwhelming percentage of Wisconsin complexes are moving to turf surfaces, and most new complexes are installing straight-to-turf facilities. State tournaments are all hosted on turf fields in both soccer and football, and many playoff games for soccer are required to be played on turf.

●  Staying Competitive: In today’s competitive educational landscape, having modern facilities is crucial. The new complex keeps New Glarus on par with neighboring districts, ensuring the district can attract and retain talent.

●  Versatile Usage: The complex’s design allows for multiple uses beyond sports events. From hosting small concerts and cultural celebrations to outdoor classes and community programming, this facility will be a hub of activity, benefiting students and the wider community alike.

The district is only able to afford the basic plan for the athletic complex, including the track/soccer/football field, press box, relocated bleachers, relocated scoreboard, and an emergency access drive. The difference between what the district can afford and the master plan is $5 million. The New Glarus Glarner Community Field Committee is hoping to fund raise the entire $5 million, but has broken the project into three phases in case the full amount can’t be raised immediately. The Bank of New Glarus is kicking off the fundraising campaign with a $400,000 donation. 

The fundraising committee is extremely grateful for their incredible support and being the first donation towards this exciting project which will benefit both the school district and the entire community. 

To support New Glarus students and the community, opportunities to donate to the new activities complex are being offered to businesses, alumni, current students, families, and community members. Those interested in getting involved and being recognized can find more information at glarnerpride.com. Tax-deductible donations can be made on the website, or checks can be mailed or dropped at the New Glarus School District.