OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – A 7-0 vote by Oshkosh’s School Board Wednesday night sealed the fate of Smith Elementary.
Students will now transfer to Jefferson Elementary School.
Dr. Vickie Cartwright, Oshkosh Schools Superintendent, tells FOX 11…”Student safety must take priority. We must put students interests at heart in all decisions. In addition to that, by merging the two school sites together there are opportunities that we are creating for these students as well.”
Cartwright made sure standards are being met to accommodate more students at Jefferson Elementary.
“We have already gone in and calculated out the class sizes making sure that everything would fit. It still meets the AGR standards, so it’s still considered to be a small school. The classrooms at Jefferson are actually quite large because it is a newer facility so it’s designed differently than facilities that were designed in the 1900s or 1895.”
A letter was also sent to families that the school board would discuss the building’s future. The letter stated although the building is safe its long term outlook is bleak:
However, the reality is that the school building is very old and is in need of significant and ongoing maintenance – including but not limited to extensive, impending roof repairs and foundation work. As such, we are concerned that continuing roof problems will result in a situation in which we cannot guarantee the building’s long-term safety. Additionally, the District has been informed that fixing the school’s roof will be exceedingly expensive. With this understanding, we are in a position that requires us to evaluate our options and has some very difficult conversations about what is best for our students and our school.According to documents from the school district, repairs to fix the school would have cost at least $3.7 million.
Cartwright says the contractor who looks at the schools’ roofs didn’t feel comfortable putting in writing the school would be safe.
“Given the fact that we were not able, our contractor that typically takes a look at our roofs and those types of things were not willing to put in writing to us that it would be safe for another year. In other words, we can’t find anybody that would have certified that roof, that is a huge risk.”
Cartwright also encouraged parents to reach out to Jefferson School’s principal to take a tour of the school. She also expressed the principal has been accommodating to parents in the new shift. Options are also still available for those who may consider attending Jefferson School.
“We want you to go out and take a look at this facility. After you’re doing that and you still don’t want to go there, we still have our open enrollment process that’s open right now. People can still apply for that.”
Although the school is now closing Cartwright shared her support for the next steps.
“We’re trying to look at making plans for how can we do a special ceremony at Smith School so that people can memorialize the school itself. We want this as far as our community, to have that closure.”
Smith Elementary School was built in 1895 and expanded in 1929. The gymnasium and two classrooms were added in 1996.
