Clintonville ponders school changes

Middle school could become elementary school
By: 
Grace Kirchner
Correspondent

CLINTONVILLE — The latest option presented to Clintonville School District’s facility concept planning committee on Nov. 18 reduces overall project costs of a potential referendum to about $58.9 million.

The facility concept committee has been studying the facility needs of the district and is making plans for a possible referendum in November 2020.

The latest options include converting the Dellwood Early Learning Center to a school daycare/early childhood/Head Start location. Clintonville Middle School would become the elementary school for 4K-fifth grade, and additions would be made at the Clintonville High School for a middle school wing. There would also be an innovation center for technology education and agriculture facilities.

The updated plans also include a new access road onto County Road D, upgrades to parking/parent drop-off, synthetic turf conversion, softball field parking, tennis court resurfacing, playground space, and extension of the nature trail around the new property.

Proposals for extra practice fields and bus garage on the new property were removed from the plan and added to future development.

A sub-committee will be formed to draft community survey questions. The survey could help to determine what the school district residents would support.

Mary Kautz, who sits on the committee, suggested district officials approach the rural areas about these plans to avoid any potential financial burdens.

“They are having a hard time and there are a lot of retired people on a limited income,” Kautz said.

School board president Ben Huber, who is also a city alderman, pointed out that folks within the city are already feeling an increase in their local taxes, and the city is pondering a new fire station that could cost up to $6 million.

“Almost 50% of the district will be feeling an increase in their local taxes,” he said.

Chuck Manske, a committee member who sits on the Clintonville City Council, countered that the proposals on the table will meet students’ needs and will help cover students 30 years into the future.

“This is a different world. We need to be selling the idea of education by passing along what we heard here tonight. It’s not about money, but rather the children and the gift we give them,” Manske said.

Superintendent David Dyb noted that the Clintonville School District has not held a building referendum in 20 years.

“I think we have done a good job,” Dyb said. “I want to support what the community wants.”

Dyb said that district officials visited school districts in Marion, Shiocton and Tigerton to learn about the day care centers being operated there. Some are operated by the school district, and some are not profitable, he said. All of the districts agreed that hiring a manager for a day care is often difficult.

The committee will meet again in January.