News about the Oshkosh District

Posted March 2, 2008

Four elementary schools to close under latest facilities plan
By Amanda M. Wimmer
of The Northwestern

At least four Oshkosh elementary schools will close and one middle school will be converted to an elementary school under the newest version of the Oshkosh school district's10-year facilities.

Under a new plan unveiled by planners at Wednesday's school board meeting, Lincoln, Oaklawn and Smith elementary schools would close. Green Meadow and Lakeside elementary schools are also slated for closure; however, Superintendent Ron Heilmann said it was still being discussed whether one of those buildings might remain open. As part of the new plan, Perry Tipler Middle School would become an elementary school.

It is not yet known at what point any schools would close in the 10-year plan, which is expected to play out over two phases, each funded by its own referendum. The facilities plan, which has been in the planning stages for nearly two years, ultimately aims to close schools, redraw boundary lines, add onto existing schools and create more equity district-wide.

A vote on the first phase, which is expected to cost taxpayers about $40 million, is expected March 19. Before that meeting, facilities planners will work to slim down the cost of renovating and adding onto schools and to prioritize the work that will be done, Heilmann said.

"I think we'll talk about what schools will rise to the top in a multi-phase approach," he said.

Based on the cost estimates done by Bray Associates Architects, Inc., a Sheboygan-based architecture firm, hired last year to evaluate schools, create floor plans and develop renovation and construction budgets, the district would need to spend between $65 and $76 million to update buildings in the district and build a new north side school, which is also part of the current plan.

Bray Associates estimates schools in Oshkosh would cost anywhere from $3 million to more than $9 million each to update, renovate and expand if every single element detailed in the plan is done by the district. The budgets developed by Bray Associates included everything from costs for paint and flooring to equipment updates, fire protection, demolition and heat system upgrades.

Heilmann said he thought it was important to target exactly what schools need to be addressed with dollars that will come from a first referendum, which is scheduled for February 2009.

"As a minimum, do we address security needs as far as putting offices near main entrances in all the buildings? I think we also heard from the board that creating equity among the special education population (is important)," Heilmann said. "We might need to concentrate dollars and resources on addressing equity concerns right out of the chute."

Board member Karen Bowen said she thought the district could take a good first step with a $40 million referendum for the first phase of the 10-year project.

"I think the other thing that was fairly clear (Wednesday) night is that this will be stage one," she said. "That's OK. As long as it is really stage one and we don't stop there because then we will be in the same shape we are now."

The facilities planning process began in 2006 after a Green Bay-based consulting firm—Public Management Partners—identified $10 million in outstanding facilities needs. The report also found that Oshkosh has more elementary and middle schools than comparable school districts and said officials should consider closing several buildings and changing boundary lines to save money and provide equal educational opportunities.

Board member Dan Becker said he thought a $40 million price tag would be more appealing to the Oshkosh community than some of the other numbers thrown out in the past.

"I'm still not happy with $40 million," he said. "But what I believe is inconsequential, because it's what the community will support. At least $40 million gives us a fighting chance—$70 to $80 million, in my opinion would have given us no chance of (passing a referendum)."

Other board members say it isn't about the amount of money spent, but more doing what needs to be done to bring the Oshkosh school district to where it needs to be.

"I think any number is appropriate if you make a case for it," said board member Amy Weinsheim.

Board member Tom McDermott said the facilities planners and the board need to take a close look at what comes with $40 million.

"I think we need to take a hard look at what is included in that and figure out what we need to do in the first phase," he said.