Neenah schools will seek up to $129.5 million in an April 2 referendum after a resolution was adopted by the Board of Education at its Dec. 18 meeting.
The resolution culminated a nearly two-year process that involved a comprehensive facilities study, a community survey and 11 public Board of Education meetings focused on facilities improvement. The main focus of the referendum is a new $83.9 million middle school for grades 7 and 8 to replace Shattuck Middle School. Every building would receive infrastructure upgrades totaling about $31.2 million and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) upgrades costing $5.4 million. All buildings would also receive safety and security enhancements such as secure entrances and additional video cameras totaling $4 million. The high school technical education area would be renovated for $5 million.
Bray Architects, which conducted the facilities study for the District, was approved as the architectural firm for the projects, while Miron Construction was chosen as the construction management company.
The Board also discussed target-based grading at the middle and high school levels. They heard a presentation at the previous meeting and were scheduled to vote. However, several Board members wondered the purpose of taking a vote and it was decided not to vote on the issue. The main concern from Board members heading into the initiative surrounded the selection and implementation of the software system prior to the 2019-20 school year.
The Board approved the summer school proposal for 2019. The main changes involve discontinuing transportation and lunch at the elementary levels. Lunch will also no longer be provided at Horace Mann and the high school. Administration is considering plans for how to handle economically-disadvantaged students who may have difficulty bringing a lunch to school.
In other action, end-of-year retirements were approved for Lakeview teacher Donna Engelland and high school teacher Monica Schoen. Resignations were approved for Taft teacher Tonya Vanevenhoven, effective Dec. 21, and Lakeview educational assistant Pam Seifert Green, effective Jan. 11.
In non-action items, the Board had its first review of the 2019-20 and 2020-21 school calendars. The main change involves week-long parent-teacher conferences with different nights being held at each level. The elementary half days at the end of each quarter will also be reinstated. The calendars will be voted upon at the next meeting on Jan. 15.
Mike Clark, a director at Robert W. Baird, provided background on the financial strategy for the upcoming referendum. Clark estimated the average annual tax impact at $167 per $100,000 of property value.
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