The Fennimore School Board met on Wednesday, Oct. 4, with a great deal of the meeting time dedicated to the development of a preliminary survey on possible facility improvement set up by School Perceptions. A representative of School Perceptions presented at the board meeting to explain the survey and answer questions.
A press release issued by the school district concerning the upcoming survey, reads as follows:
In a pivotal step towards addressing the facility needs of Fennimore Community Schools, on Wednesday evening the Board of Education received the first draft of a community survey. The survey, scheduled for distribution to all district residents in early November, seeks feedback on potential facility projects identified by the district.
Since the spring of 2023, the Fennimore School District has been diligently engaged in a facility study in close collaboration with the Board of Education, the school administrative team, Performance Services Inc (a design/build company), and RW Baird Financial Services. Just last week, the outcomes of this extensive study were presented in detail during a workshop attended by the Fennimore Community School Board.
While no official decisions have been made, the study’s findings underscored the need to consider a referendum to address the identified facility needs. The reason the district is able to consider building projects is because the previous referendum debt will be paid off 10 years early. Jane Wonderling, District Administrator, emphasized the significance of gathering community input before any determinations are made.
“Our analysis has affirmed the existence of a wide spectrum of repairs and replacements that surpass what can be funded through regular operating funds. Our needs range from roofs, to safety issues on our playground equipment, to replacing the poles for our outdoor lighting, just to name a few. Now it is time to ask the public and we lay it out in the survey as clearly as we can,” stated Wonderling.
The potential projects under consideration are categorized into four key areas: major building systems, classrooms and support space, safety enhancements, and compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards. Also, to free up space for future expansion onto the middle/high school, the plan could relocate the athletic fields. The estimated cost for addressing these critical areas falls within the range of $17.5 million to just over $21 million.
“That is why it is so important that we ask the taxpayer for their input,” said Wonderling. The community survey, once finalized, will be mailed to all district residents in November. School Perceptions, a Wisconsin based survey company, is assisting the district in the development, distribution, and collection of data.”
In other action taken up by the board, the mill rate, which is the amount of tax payable per dollar of the assessed value of a property was approved at 8.61, which is a decrease from last year’s rate of 9.08.
The hiring of middle school teacher Linda Ihm as a forensics assistant was approved by the board, while the resignation of middle school teacher Allison Meyer as a middle school girls’ basketball coach was also approved.
The board also approved the use of NEOLA, an educational consulting firm, for the development of administrative and policy guidelines.
And lastly, all new and revised school board policies were approved.
A press release issued by the school district concerning the upcoming survey, reads as follows:
In a pivotal step towards addressing the facility needs of Fennimore Community Schools, on Wednesday evening the Board of Education received the first draft of a community survey. The survey, scheduled for distribution to all district residents in early November, seeks feedback on potential facility projects identified by the district.
Since the spring of 2023, the Fennimore School District has been diligently engaged in a facility study in close collaboration with the Board of Education, the school administrative team, Performance Services Inc (a design/build company), and RW Baird Financial Services. Just last week, the outcomes of this extensive study were presented in detail during a workshop attended by the Fennimore Community School Board.
While no official decisions have been made, the study’s findings underscored the need to consider a referendum to address the identified facility needs. The reason the district is able to consider building projects is because the previous referendum debt will be paid off 10 years early. Jane Wonderling, District Administrator, emphasized the significance of gathering community input before any determinations are made.
“Our analysis has affirmed the existence of a wide spectrum of repairs and replacements that surpass what can be funded through regular operating funds. Our needs range from roofs, to safety issues on our playground equipment, to replacing the poles for our outdoor lighting, just to name a few. Now it is time to ask the public and we lay it out in the survey as clearly as we can,” stated Wonderling.
The potential projects under consideration are categorized into four key areas: major building systems, classrooms and support space, safety enhancements, and compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards. Also, to free up space for future expansion onto the middle/high school, the plan could relocate the athletic fields. The estimated cost for addressing these critical areas falls within the range of $17.5 million to just over $21 million.
“That is why it is so important that we ask the taxpayer for their input,” said Wonderling. The community survey, once finalized, will be mailed to all district residents in November. School Perceptions, a Wisconsin based survey company, is assisting the district in the development, distribution, and collection of data.”
In other action taken up by the board, the mill rate, which is the amount of tax payable per dollar of the assessed value of a property was approved at 8.61, which is a decrease from last year’s rate of 9.08.
The hiring of middle school teacher Linda Ihm as a forensics assistant was approved by the board, while the resignation of middle school teacher Allison Meyer as a middle school girls’ basketball coach was also approved.
The board also approved the use of NEOLA, an educational consulting firm, for the development of administrative and policy guidelines.
And lastly, all new and revised school board policies were approved.
The Fennimore School Board will next meet at their annual meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 24, at 6 p.m., in the cafeteria of the Fennimore Elementary School.
