Back to schools in election

Muskego - Voters in the Muskego-Norway School District will go to the polls in a special election Nov. 8 to decide whether the schools can borrow $29.9 million to consolidate and update the elementary schools.

School officials say they want to close the two oldest schools, Muskego and Tess Corners, because heating and ventilation systems are at the end of their useful lives, they are not handicapped accessible, and they severely lack storage space.

Plus, they say, Muskego Elementary is on a busy street and needs better traffic circulation.

Envisioning the work

To take up the slack, officials advocate building a new elementary school and expanding another.

The new school, accommodating 650 students, would be constructed on district-owned land on North Cape Road southeast of Bluhm Park.

Mill Valley Elementary would expand under the plan to 450 students. An addition would be built and the school renovated.

Also under the plan, other schools would be renovated.

At Lakeview Elementary, the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system would be replaced, a gym would be added, and the school would get a more secure entrance and would be made handicapped accessible.

Country Meadows Elementary and Bay Lane Middle School, which share a school building, would also each get secure entrances.

Lowering the costs

The cost is estimated at $107.50 per year for the owner of a $250,000 home.

A more extensive elementary school update costing $34 million failed at a referendum last November. But Superintendent of Schools Joe Schroeder said he thinks this pared-down version meets the needs of both the schools and the taxpayers.

Schroeder also said he agrees with School Board president Jim Schaefer's comment several weeks ago that this is probably the last time the update can be done for less than $30 million.

The cost of materials alone such as steel rose $1 million just since last year, Schroeder said, and construction bids and interest rates are extremely low right now.

Reacting to input

The district held focus groups and did a survey in January to explore what voters didn't like about the first plan.

The majority said they appreciated that the elementary schools have needs, but that the original plan was too big, Schroeder said.

"So, the board believes this is a way to be comprehensive as people said we need to be and bring down the cost a bit," he said.

Not only is the cost down, but the School Board is making a longer-term commitment to keep Lakeview School, the only district school in the town of Norway, thriving, Schroeder said.

Only a secure entrance was envisioned for Lakeview in the original plan. The referendum failed in Norway, where there was an undercurrent of fear that the School Board might eventually abandon Lakeview, a real landmark in the town.

The changes in the latest proposal have led to the new plan being endorsed by Town Chairwoman Jean Jacobson. Schroeder is encouraged by the endorsement, describing Jacobson as a respected leader with a long career in public service.

A matter of timing

Cost considerations played into the board's decision to hold the vote at a special referendum in November rather than waiting until the spring election in April, he said. The board talked about the timing at length but came down on a special election in November for cost and educational reasons.

"We'll get great value on the dollar," Schroeder said.

In addition, a vote now will mean planning can be finished by spring, so construction crews can get a jump on the construction season if the plan meets with voter approval, Schroeder said.

Waiting for a spring election would delay construction and result in children having to switch schools in mid-year, which will disrupt education, he said.

Schroeder is optimistic that more than just parents will turn out for the referendum vote.

"Muskego traditionally has had a very strong turnout rate," he said. "If anything, the groups that show up are seniors and people without children."

Care also was taken to hold the special referendum when the regular November referendum would have been held, he said. Voters pretty much expect to go to the polls in November, so they will be looking for an election, Schroeder said. There just doesn't happen to be a regular November election this year.

THE PLAN

Close Muskego and Tess Corners elementary schools

Build a new school for 650 students on district-owned land on North Cape Road southeast of Bluhm Park

Expand and renovate Mill Valley Elementary School to accommodate more 450 students

Ewnovate Lakeview Elementary with a new gym, HVAC, secure entry and improvements for those with handicaps

Add secure entrances for both Country Meadows Elementary and Bay Lane Middle School.

THE COST

Borrowing $29.9 million plus using approximately $5 million from the fund balance to bring the cost down

Estimated $107.50 per year for the owner of a $250,000 home, according to district estimates

POLLING PLACES

The polls will be open for a special election in the Muskego-Norway School District from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Nov. 8. The polling places are:

In Muskego (by aldermanic district)

District 1: Tess Corners Volunteer Fire Department station 1 at S6731 Tess Corners Drive

District 2: Muskego Library, W16663 Janesville Road

District 3: Atonement Lutheran Church, W16244 Martin Drive

District 4: Muskego City Hall, S8200 Racine Ave.

District 5: Mill Valley Elementary School, S6445 Hillendale Drive

District 6: Tess Corners Fire Station 4, S10030 Racine Ave.

District 7: Tess Corners Fire Station 2, W13444 Loomis Drive

In Town of Norway

Town Hall, 6419 Heg Park Road

In New Berlin

Atonement Lutheran Church, W16244 Martin Drive