Parkview school-closure decision leaves many questions
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Parkview School District - Proposed addition to Orfordville Elementary School
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Steve Lutzke
ORFORDVILLE — Footville and Newark elementary schools will close, and Parkview School District residents will be asked for nearly $4 million.
Beyond those two certainties from the school board’s decision Monday, many questions remain, including which schools will be open next year.
The board voted Monday to close both schools at an undetermined date and to hold a referendum asking voter permission to build classrooms and a gym at Orfordville Elementary.
Included in the board’s decision is a plan to use eight portable classrooms if the referendum fails.
How the details play out depends on whether a referendum can by readied in time for the April ballot, something Superintendent Steve Lutzke on Monday night said was unlikely.
In an email to the Gazette, he said he started Tuesday making calls about developing a request for proposals for the project, and the district will need to hire a referendum consultant.
“The election is April 3, and we have to pass a resolution 45 days prior to the election. However, Rock County will need to know sooner than that if we are going to have a referendum question on the ballot,” he said.
The district needs a more precise cost estimate to present to the community for a referendum, and Lutzke said administrators are gathering that information.
The board based its Monday decision on a $3.89 million estimate from Ringland-Johnson of Cherry Valley, Ill., for a 29,056-square-foot addition. The estimate includes 14 classrooms and a gym that would become the site of high school sports games. The proposal does not include remodeling of the existing school, and administrators have said the kitchen needs remodeling.
In September, J.P. Cullen & Sons presented a $9.26 million proposal that included adding a new gym, a new cafeteria and 20,000 square feet of classroom space and remodeling part of the school.
Borrowing $3.8 million over 20 years at 4 percent interest would cost taxpayers about 57 cents per $1,000 of equalized valuation annually, business manager Pat Miller said. For example, the owner of a $200,000 home would pay an extra $108 each year.
Administrators will seek “additional clarification” at the Monday, Dec. 19, board meeting about what the approved plan means for the 2012-13 school year, Lutzke said.
As Lutzke understands Monday’s decision:
n An approved referendum in April might result in a school closure for next year, but the issue wasn’t discussed in detail Monday. Board President Troy Knudson said after the meeting the board could revisit the idea of closing one school because the district would be committed to a centralized campus.
“You don’t know that there’s an end in sight,” if one school were closed now without that commitment, he said.
-- A failed referendum in April would mean portable classrooms at Orfordville for next year and Footville and Newark would be closed.
-- If a referendum isn’t on the ballot until November, “I am of the understanding that we will maintain the status quo next year,” Lutzke said.
If all three elementary schools remain open next year, the district won’t realize any savings toward its estimated $500,000 deficit for next year.
The district will be looking to make changes to its health and dental insurance to save money, Lutzke said. Parkview will be meeting with other area school districts to explore the possibility of forming a health care cooperative, he said.
“We’re going to have to look at that real hard,” he said after Monday’s meeting.
The district already has received some retirement notifications, so some of those positions might not be filled, he said.
Administrators also are looking at multi-grade classrooms at Newark, which might allow the district to reduce staff, he said.
Dec 5, 2011 at 1:25 p.m.
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gallon76: I don't believe they are adding a gym just for the heck of it.
I've heard they need the extra gym space to accomodate the increase in # of Phy Ed classes in that building once the students from Newark/Footville move over.
Because gym space has been such an issue in the district, if you are already adding one, to me it makes sense to make it something that can be used for more than just Elementary Phy Ed classes and address other issues/concerns at the same time.
"Kill 2 birds with 1 stone"
Dec 2, 2011 at 6:29 p.m.
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I would support the referendum for the classrooms but since they added the gym out of nowhere, I will not support it at all. Take out the gym and it has a good chance on passing. With the gym in there I doubt it will pass. No one even said how much the gym cost and how much the classrooms and cafeteria cost. Break it down so the people know what they are voting for instead of a lump sum.
Dec 1, 2011 at 4:24 p.m.
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We do not dog the school to the child, it's merely my opinion. And if you read, I said most are poorly coached, I speak from experience after being involved in the sports programs for several years. I do believe the coaches are hard working and dedicated, just not always the right fit for the team. I do thank you for the team information, it seems that a certain 9th grade boy has an issue with telling the truth, I apologize for making the incorrect statement.
Dec 1, 2011 at 3:57 p.m.
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Wow hayburnr. Too many people forget that school cultures are largely effected by how the parents/community portray and support them. If kids are hearing a parent constantly complaining about how things are so bad, they will buy into that sentiment...
AND, maybe you should get your facts straight before chiming in and giving the other readers incorrect info: There are 11 boys on their freshmen basketball team, not sure what is going on with this team you claim doesn't exist...
Also, I think a number of their coaches are great! As with any school, some coaches are able to garner the student's interest better than others, but they are all good people and work hard in their respective sports.
Dec 1, 2011 at 1:50 p.m.
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A bigger gym, what a joke. They don't even have a 9th grade boys basketball team because only 6 kids showed up for the team, that sure warrants a bigger gym doesn't it! Sports in the Parkview district are a joke, most are poorly coached and the students show a huge lack of interest. I know, my kid goes there, really thinking about moving to another district for sports and scholarship opportunities.....
Dec 1, 2011 at 11:48 a.m.
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What is the end game that is being set up here? A sharply divided school district with a gym that does not fit in to the school layout at all? A school district that houses its students in portable classrooms that will become permanent based on the district's history? I absolutely know that budgets are like a brick wall right now, but the Parkview School District is now reaping the rewards of these types of decisions over the past 50 years. Failed referendum after failed referendum with politics and trickery playing a huge part in these failed efforts. We are also getting exactly what we voted for in this state in 2010. If you don't like the outcomes of the past, look in the mirror and ask that person what part he/she played in setting up this situation.
I feel for the school board members who are trying so hard to figure this out. And for those on the board and in the district with an agenda – no so much. The board is elected at large and thus does not have a divided constituency based on residency – they need to address the district's needs as such. But in the end, it is always up to the voters to decide once again.
Dec 1, 2011 at 11:27 a.m.
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99% for the gym? The other article stated the estimated cost of portable classrooms would be almost $1 million. The $3.9m referendum would be for 14 classrooms AND a gym (and I'm sure the 14 brick/mortar classrooms are not a cheaper alternative to portable buildings).
Another gym would be needed for the additional Phy Ed classes that will now need space at OES - otherwise, I don't know where they would hold all of the Phy Ed classes. I would guess the gym portion would be less than 35% of the total referendum. And, if you've ever been in the Parkview facilities, you'd know extra gym space is badly needed for all the after-school activities going on there (JH/HS sports, youth sports, musical, show choir, etc...)!
Dec 1, 2011 at 9:09 a.m.
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lets see 99% of the money will go towards the gym not class rooms. I don't live in that District but people should really make sure the money is spent in the right spot. So they don't come back and ask for more money in a few years.
Nov 30, 2011 at 9:39 p.m.
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Steve, you are going to have to look at that really hard.
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