Parkview debates closing two elementary schools
ORFORDVILLE — Members of the community and the Parkview School Board can agree the district needs to centralize its three elementary schools.
But when the discussion turns to a plan to close schools in Newark and Footville, the decades-long debate returns to an argument in which factions fight to keep their favored schools open longer.
That was again the case Monday as members of the board joined the monthly meeting of the district's long range facility planning committee in hopes of developing a plan.
"If we really think we have to close these schools, then we have to remove all the (other) choices," said Tracy Breneman, a parent on the committee.
Breneman described an "eerily similar" situation years ago in Poynette, where his dad was school board president for 18 years.
"For 18 years they fought just like we fight here" about closing two elementary schools, he said. The only way the district finally moved forward was by leaving the voters with no choices and stating both schools were closing, he said.
"You need to remove all the choices," he said.
Breneman's comments came after a 90-minute discussion about centralizing the district in Orfordville and revising questions on a survey that will be sent to about 3,000 district households.
The survey, designed to gauge support for a referendum, is awaiting updated data this fall.
The committee had planned to recommend to the board that the district build a new junior/senior high school and move all three elementary schools into the existing high school. The committee backed away from the plan this summer amid concerns the public wouldn't support a possible $25-million referendum.
The committee is considering options to consolidate the elementary schools and add on to Orfordville Elementary to accommodate all of the students. That could cost $9.26 million—an estimate J.P. Cullen & Sons presented Monday. The estimate includes adding 20,000 square feet of classrooms, a new gym and cafeteria to Orfordville Elementary, and remodeling part of the school.
The firm provided a concept budget after meeting with Superintendent Steve Lutzke.
Of the $9.26 million cost, remodeling is estimated at $1.8 million, construction at $6.7 million, and the remainder includes costs for architectural and engineering fees, plus furnishings and equipment.
The estimates also included an option of adding air conditioning to the existing school for $600,000.
All Newark students would fit in at Orfordville if the rural school were to close now, Lutzke said. If Footville were to close now, one or two portable classrooms would be needed at Orfordville.
If Newark and Footville both closed, eight to 10 additional classrooms would be needed at Orfordville.
The long range facility planning committee hopes to finalize a recommendation when it meets next with the school board at 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 10, at the high school.
Lutzke reminded the group that the administrative team's goal is providing the best service for students.
"Our current configuration is not doing that," he said.
Three teachers could have taught first grade this year, but because students are unequally spread between Newark and Footville, four teachers were needed. The extra teacher could have been used in sixth grade, where 28 students are in one class, he said.
"Our inability as a community to make a decision this year is affecting our sixth-grade instruction," he said, noting he doesn't want the district to face a problem in a different grade next year.
"I want us to understand that kids' education is at stake, and there's more to it than a fond memory of when I went to a certain building 30 years ago."
Sep 15, 2011 at 10:19 a.m.
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thinkaboutit...I can't run for school board in that district because I don't live in that district. I don't pretend to be a know-it-all, as you say, but add comments to these stories based on what I know to be true.
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Sometimes, the truth can only be told anonymously in order to protect people. By the way, I'm pretty sure that the screen name "thinkaboutit" is also anonymous, is it not, bud? Also, if you want to be taken seriously on any comment, you must use proper spelling and grammar. It's essential to your argument.
Sep 14, 2011 at 9:25 p.m.
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That was to posterboy
Sep 14, 2011 at 9:23 p.m.
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Since you are such a know-it-all, then why aren't you on the School Board? Oh ya - because its much easier to sit back and spout off insults behind an anonymous screen name. You go bud.
Sep 14, 2011 at 12:17 p.m.
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posterguy~ you got the side note right. There is not reason that all the kids shouldnt be in Orfordville. Where is the high school, JR high, the buses. But no lets not touch the newark private school. The only reason they dont talk about just closing the PRIVATE school is cause they have the votes to shoot it down. Mr.President Knutson look at it this way. You have to close down the jail or the blackhawk Tech station. What one makes more sense. But most all of the officers like the south station. So you keep that open. Its the same thing
Sep 14, 2011 at 9:50 a.m.
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What the board, the administration, and the community need to do is figure out which location will be most central and require the lowest remodel and construction costs. This mess has gone on long enough.
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On a side note, the reason 6th grade has an issue with class sizes is because Steve Lutzke's son is in 5th grade, so class sizes in the grade level received the 1st priority. So, next year, if 6th grade looks like it will have higher class sizes, I can almost guarantee there will be a teacher moved to ensure little Lutzke doesn't have too many kids with him in class. The district administration and school board are a joke, and Mr. Lutzke and his free PhD classes is the biggest clown of the bunch.
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