A discussion of priorities and values regarding Neenah Joint School District facilities highlighted the Board of Education’s initial facilities review meeting on Thursday, Feb. 15 at Shattuck Middle School.
The meeting was the first of four to address the results of a facilities study by Bray Architects and the results of a community and staff survey conducted last spring. Superintendent Dr. Mary Pfeiffer and Facilities/Engineer Adam Krieger provided a background and process of the study before Bray President Matthew Wolfert addressed specific portions of how the study was conducted.
Several Board members began the meeting by commenting that the 603-page report read like a house inspection and was overwhelming. However, there was a sense of excitement regarding the detail that Bray provided in its assessment at each of the 14 buildings.
“I think this gives us the foundation of what we’re going to be looking at,” said Board member Betsy Ellenberger.
Board member John Van Meter added that if the Board intends to make significant building improvements it must somehow attempt to account for what education will look like in 30 years.
Some Board members inquired about the staff and community survey and Wolfert noted that the approximately 20 percent response rate from parents is typical of most surveys. He also indicated that the survey process is ongoing.
“Any sort of solution that goes to the next step will involve staff listening,” Wolfert said. “We will not stop engaging staff input during this process.”
Board President Michelle Swardenski added approval to Wolfert’s comments. “I would urge every single member of our staff to let us know what they want and what they need,” she said.
Wolfert said the goal of the survey was two-fold. “It was critically important to get staff and community input and to also make sure they are part of the process.”
The survey discussion led into a lengthy dialogue regarding what the Board values in facilities. Many Board members stated that safety and security is far and away their top priority. They reviewed the other values given by a facilities committee that included (in no particular order): high student achievement; efficient spending and strategic use of resources; sufficient educational space; learning environments that are student-centered, collaborative, innovative, flexible and technologically integrated; equity of educational space and quality of learning environments across schools; functional and reliable infrastructure and neighborhood schools.
Other values that Board members offered were competitiveness among other districts, aesthetics and buildings that promote healthy lifestyles.
An open forum was conducted at the start of the meeting and will be held in each upcoming meeting. Each speaker was limited to two minutes and topics addressed included the doors at Neenah High School, indoor and outdoor turf surfaces, upgrades to Pickard Auditorium and air quality in portions of the high school.
The facilities committee will provide a recommendation that will be offered at the next meeting on Wed., Feb. 28 at 5 p.m. at the Shattuck Auditorium.
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