MENASHA, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Parents in Menasha are hoping a proposed school will replace an aging facility that’s dealt with overcrowding and decreasing enrollment.
“I’ve been in the school,” Maplewood Middle School Parent Amanda Barth said. “My daughter’s an eighth grader now so she’s been in it since sixth grade and it’s quite small and tight.
If the November 8 referendum passes, replacing Maplewood Middle School would be the second step in a three phase program for the district.”
“And as we move forward to meet their needs in our schools, we think we’ve got a good plan going out,” Menasha School District Superintendent Chris VanderHeyden said.
VanderHeyden said the building would be demolished and replaced by a school for fifth through eight graders. He tells FOX 11 it’s the most financially responsible decision for the district to make.
“The price tag to add on and remodel to the tune of what we feel we need there was going to be 93 and a half million. This is a building that should last us for 75-100 years. Let’s do it right.”
The total referendum cost is $99.7 million. VanderHeyden projects no mill rate increase if it’s passed since the district has almost paid off its last major renovation.
“We’re aggressively paying down the borrowing from that. So our goal is to maintain that level of taxation. The way we’ve paid off that loan thus far or gotten close to paying off the loan from the high school has saved our taxpayers over six million dollars. So we see that as a viable strategy moving ahead.”
VanderHeyden said he feels good about the referendum’s chances of passing. Community survey results showed over 68% of respondents supported the idea in April. Many Maplewood parents, including Barth, agree it’s time for a new facility. She has however voiced some worries.
“The only thing that kind of concerns or interests me is it’s going to be built where the fieldhouse is now and the field’s going to be put up front,” Barth said. “So I’m curious what they’re going to do with that as far as fencing it because now you’re moving it towards a busy street.”
The district has an early conceptual site plan, but VanderHeyden says nothing is official.
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