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School project: Middle school ‘only uses 3 of 14 rooms’ for first half hour of school day
News · January 19, 2017
Editor’s note: This is the third week in a five-week series asking members of the West Branch Board of Education about the proposed $19.11 million referendum and the $20 million to $21 million addition project. A vote on the referendum is set for Feb. 7.
This week’s question: Several ideas have been presented to keep the middle school, like building an enclosed walkway and turning it into part of the elementary school. What are the functional and financial reasons (rather than educational reasons) for eliminating the middle school?
Board member Keith Schultes is answering:
“Let’s be clear about what our school district is about: education.
The functionality and financial reasons for any plan pertaining to the middle school is secondary to how the building supports the way our district educates students.
One hundred twenty-five middle school students start the day at the high school for 1.5 hours for classes that can’t be held in the middle school for reasons like: technology for group based learning, foreign language, and the industrial arts facility.
These are just three reasons that show the functionality of the middle school doesn’t support educating the students.
When we discuss financials about the middle school, figure the costs to have the middle school upgraded and adding course-specific rooms. Does our district want these costs added to the cost of maintaining a mechanical deficient building?
Our district does not generate enough PPEL (Physical Plant and Equipment Levy) and SAVE (Secure an Advanced Vision for Education) dollars to address retooling of the middle school.
The high school and Hoover buildings still need additional maintenance and improvements.
Collectively, several local committees, community members, parents of students, administrators, and directors in the district have decided that our district’s tax dollars are better used with our current plan that addresses other district concerns as well.
The removal of the middle school allows our district to address safety issues at the Hoover Elementary and logistical, scheduling, and curriculum issues at the high school.
To address the specific topic of a covered walkway, the idea of building a walkway from the middle school to Hoover Elementary building does nothing towards how our district educates students.
It would create a safety concern by interfering with line-of-sight on the campus. (Splits two recess areas). Without overspending on what the basic function of a covered walkway provides, this would be an eyesore to the campus.
From an educational standpoint and a taxpayer perspective, we have to question a building that only uses 3 of 14 rooms several days a week between 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. and gradually fills throughout the morning, only to be emptied later in the day for lunches, additional music instruction, and PE class.
Take a good, in-depth look at our district plan. Reach out and inquire about our district plan and vote.”
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