APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The “Future Needs Advisory Committee” has been meeting since September to come up with recommendations to solve overcrowding in Appleton schools.
The district says 11 of its 16 elementary schools are over capacity, in addition to three out of four middle schools, and all three high schools. That equals out to 17 of 23 Appleton schools being overcapacity.
Greg Hartjes, the district’s chief financial officer, tells FOX the overcrowding is happening because of growth on the north side of the city and outdated classroom models.
“It’s very uncommon for us to educate 30 kids sitting in a desk, in rows, in classrooms. It really doesn’t fit with what we want to do.”
After eight meetings, the Future Needs Advisory Committee has four recommendations to present to the school board. The board will review the recommendations for the first time Dec. 20 at 9 a.m.
Option one:Build a new elementary schoolSixth graders would move to middle schoolsTotal cost: $95 millionCost to taxpayers: Extra $17 per year, per $100,000 of property
Option two:Build a new elementary school and a new middle schoolSixth graders would move to middle schoolsTotal cost: $125 millionCost to taxpayers: Extra $61 per year, per $100,000 of property
Option three:Build one new school to hold elementary/middle schoolersSixth graders would move to middle schoolsTotal cost: $117 millionCost to taxpayers: Extra $48 per year, per $100,000 of property
Option four:Build a new elementary schoolKeep sixth graders in elementary schoolsTotal cost: $88 millionCost to taxpayers: Extra $7 per year, per $100,000 of property
Hartjes says all options would have additions at the high school and middle school levels.
“We really feel like we’re in a fairly strong situation, a very positive situation in terms of going to a referendum if that’s what the board chooses to do without having a significant impact on our taxpayers.”
Hartjes says the district’s tax rate is one dollar below the state average at $8.32 per $1,000 of property.
Appleton voters approved a $25 million dollar referendum in 2014.
The school board has not made any decision yet. There’s no telling how long the process will take.
