APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The Appleton Area School District is launching a review of space needs across the district – which could lead to a recommendation for a building referendum.
The “Future Needs Advisory Committee,” which will eventually make the recommendation, has 66 members that include students, parents, staff, administrators and community members.
There are three solutions the committee can reach:
Recommending a solution to the school board.
No changes are needed.
They need more time to make a decision.
District leaders have already reviewed a capacity study prepared by a consultant.
The study was prompted by concerns about the growing north side, but the results show concerns across the district, according to the explanation on the district’s website.
“The study shows that 11 of our 16 elementary schools have student enrollments above their ‘Fully Utilized’ capacity. In addition, one of our four middle schools and all three of our high schools have enrollments above their fully-utilized capacity.”
District residents approved a $25 million referendum in 2014, but that did not address every project, nor growth since then.
“However, we were not able to address all of our needs in the following areas:Additions to schools to meet current space needs.Updates to selected science and technology education classrooms at the middle and high school levels.Remodeling of building entrances to improve building security during the school day.In addition, since the passing of the 2014 referendum six years ago, the following additional needs have developed:
Learning spaces that meet the needs of our population of learners, such as those students with Special Education needs, English Learner needs At-Risk needs and Intervention needs.Learning spaces for specialist areas such as Art and Music.Spaces to meet the growing mental health needs of our students.21st Century programming to include STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Mathematics), Robotics, Makerspaces, Coding, and Graphic Design.Co-curricular/supporting facilities that function as instructional spaces during the school day and multipurpose spaces for after-school co-curricular activities.”
The district’s Chief Financial Officer Greg Hartjes tells FOX 11 one factor for the overcrowding is because of outdated-school designs.
“We don’t try to educate kids having them sit in rows, in desks, in classrooms. We’re really looking at how can we have kids collaborate. How can we meet the needs of kids in small group instruction, larger group instruction.”
The advisory committee has eight meetings planned in the next four months. It is expected to finalize its recommendations by December 17th for delivery to the school board.
All of the meetings are open to the public, however, the committee will not be taking public input at this time.
