Fate of elementary schools to be put in voters' hands in November

Following recommendations from an ad-hoc committee following a facilities study and district-wide survey, the Durand School District Board of Education is sending two referendum questions to voters this November.

In January 2014, the Durand School District underwent a facilities study between the three academic facilities: Durand Junior and Senior High School, Caddie Woodlawn Early Learning Center, and Arkansaw Elementary School.

The study, run by Market & Johnson and SDS Architects, produced one- to three-year, four- to six-year, and seven- to 10-year needs lists, which were presented to the Board in April this year.

Following the study, the Board sought volunteers for an ad-hoc facilities committee. The committee was made up of 15 members that met five times over the summer to hold discussions, tour buildings, and look at what the District needed to do, as well as considering the most viable options, said Superintendent Greg Doverspike.

"The committee discussed various options, from building a brand new facility to doing nothing, and everything in between," he said. "They then zeroed in on three options, which is what the survey was based off of."

The three options included a renovation and addition at Caddie Woodlawn, as well as the partial demolition of Arkansaw Elementary School, renovation and addition to Arkansaw with demolition of Caddie Woodlawn, and building a new elementary school while doing very little to the high school.

"The District hired a professional, national firm to conduct the survey," Doverspike said. "A survey was the best way to get a good representation of the entire demographic, and the easiest way to find out what the community has to say."

Two hundred and fifteen District residents were surveyed, and results were reported to the ad-hoc committee August 5. A final recommendation was put together, and brought to the Board in a special meeting held August 13. The Board was set to formally adopt the questions in the form of resolutions at the August 20 regular meeting.

Doverspike said recommendations from the survey results, ad-hoc committee, and the administration matched up, for the most part.

The first referendum question will ask for $17.55 million to renovate the current structure at Caddie Woodlawn, and add on to accomodate between 430-440 students based on industry standards. Doverspike said the renovation would include HVAC, paint, lights, ceiling, flooring, asbestos removal, and the roof. 

The money would also go toward redoing the roof over the gym, office, locker rooms, and music rooms at Arkansaw Elementary School, and converting the office area to the alternative school space. It would also convert the music room to a multi-purpose room and concession stand usable from the inside and out, to accomodate the softball field. The locker rooms would be updated and converted so restrooms would be accessible from outside, as well. The gym would remain usable for school and community functions. The rest of the building would be demolished.

"To build a concession stand at the softball field, add the alternative school to the high school, and demolition of the whole building, it exceeded the cost of the work to be done at Arkansaw," Doverspike said. "With this option, we'll have minimal to moderate utility cost to maintain the facility, and it still allows a school structure presence in the Arkansaw community."

The second question will ask for $1.5 million to renovate the football field and track.

"We would put in an eight- to nine-lane all-weather track with the required field events, add additional bleachers, and redo the football field," Doverspike said. "The crown needs work, it needs to be resodded, and the irrigation system needs some updates. We would completely update the structure."

Doverspike said the track is well past its useful life, and is suffering from erosion and sinkholes.

Between the survey results and cost savings, Doverspike said it was found that the District would see higher savings having the elementary school in Durand versus Arkansaw. 

"The majority of survey participants thought the elementary school should be in Durand," he said. 

Doverspike noted the survey included all municipalites and a wide demographic.

"When asked about a new school versus renovation, the majority was in favor of renovation in Durand," he said.

If the District was to build a new school in Durand, very little work would be done at the high school.

"The exterior structure at Caddie Woodlawn is sound," Doverspike said. "The infrastructure needs work. Renovating Caddie allows us the opportunity to do work at the high school, as well, and the presented option will have a positive impact on all buildings and children in the District, which is a positive impact from this referendum."

The facilities study showed the District needs approximately $6.2 million work in one to six years at the high school, $2.1 million at Caddie Woodlawn, and $3.2 million at Arkansaw Elementary School. Another $1 to $1.5 million would be needed in the seven- to nine-year range, for a total of approximately $11.5 million, plus the cost of maintaining the three buildings.

"Our biggest issues throughout the buildings are roofing, ADA compliance, and HVAC at Caddie Woodlawn and Arkansaw Elementary," Doverspike said. "It's old and outdated."

Between maintenance, transportation, and utilities, the proposed option would save the District between $150,000 and $170,000 per year.

"That savings would go back to offsetting the levy impact on the tax payer," Doverspike said.

The tax impact for the $17.555 million referendum would average between $105 and $110 difference on what a homeowner is currently paying on a $100,000 home per year. 

The $1.5 million referendum would be a $16 average increase on a $100,000 home based on what a homeowner is currently paying. The referendums would be on a 20-year bond. The first year tax payers would see the increase would be the 2015 taxes.

If the referendum passes, Doverspike said they would break ground at Caddie Woodlawn as early as planning allows, and work would be completed by next school year. Work at the high school would be completed over two summers.

Work and demolition in Arkansaw would possibly begin at the beginning of next school year, as there would not be a huge student impact. The football field would be approached in the spring, depending on the weather and growing season. The project would be completed by Summer 2016.

The junior and senior high school was originally built in 1955, with the tech ed area added between 1960 and 1969. The science rooms were added in 1963, the upstairs in 1963, and the new addition was built in 1995. Caddie Woodlawn was originally constructed in 1966, with a two-story addition in 1988, and the front offices in 1995. Arkansaw Elementary School was originally constructed in 1963, with the gym and office area added in 1980. The back area of classrooms and cafeteria was built in 1992.

If the referendum is voted down, Doverspike said the District will have to figure out how to meet its needs in its current budget.

"We would have to do lots of hoping that our buildings make it longer and funnel resources away from the classrooms in an attempt to address the inefficacies we are experiencing," Doverspike said.