***Originally published in Grant County Herald Independent July 14, 2016***

The long-range plan site options and cost estimates were the main topic of conversation at the

River Ridge School District special board meeting last Wednesday.

Trenton Smith from McKinstry and Patrick McGowan from McGowan Architecture presented

the information via PowerPoint.

Option one is to have classes and athletics at two sites, with 5th and 6th grade in Bloomington

and 4-K to 4th grade and 7th grade to 12th grade in Patch Grove. There would be energy

improvement upgrades at both schools, too. It would cost about $4.6 to $5.7 million.

Option two is to have classes and athletics split between the two sites, with 4-K to 2nd grade in

Bloomington, and 3rd to 12th grade in Patch Grove. There would also be energy upgrades and

additional remodeling to both schools. It would cost about $5.1 to $6.4 million.

Option three is to have all classes at Patch Grove and athletics at two sites, with the football

field and track remaining in Bloomington. A locker building or restroom building would have to

be constructed in Bloomington as well. The restroom building would be 1,200 square feet and

cost $215,000 to $240,000. The locker room would cost $400,000 to $440,000. To support the

additional students, classrooms and a gym would be added in Patch Grove, along with

remodeling and energy upgrades to the school. Field lights for the baseball and softball field in

Patch Grove would also be added, as would increased parking space and possibly a gravel drive

on the west side of the Patch Grove school. The total cost would be about $8.0 to $9.3 million.

Option four is to have everything at one site in Patch Grove. The school upgrades, parking and

gravel drive details are the same as option three. The softball and baseball fields would need to

be rebuilt to make room for the football field and track, and field lights would be needed for

the football, baseball and softball fields. The total cost would be at least $10.3 to $12.2 million,

as that does not include the costs for constructing new baseball and softball fields.

Option five is to have classes at one site in Patch Grove and athletics at two sites. There would

be a gym and classrooms added to Patch Grove plus some remodeling, but there would not be

energy upgrades. Like option one, a locker room or bathroom would be built in Bloomington.

The total cost would be about $5.0 to $5.6 million.

After the five options were presented, the Board discussed some questions and concerns they

had about the plan.

Dave Breuer said "this seems to be a cover to run another referendum" and asked what had

been done to address declining enrollment. District superintendent Dr. Jeff Athey responded,

emphasizing that the long-range plan included fiscal responsibility. Breuer mentioned that "we

will probably have one of the highest tax mill rates in the state, and I don't consider that fiscally

responsible." Athey said it is a difficult situation. "Is there a right answer or a wrong answer? I

don't know," he said.

Board president Ken Nies addressed the enrollment issue, saying that it has not declined in four

or five years. Breuer mentioned that keeping both sites as they are would likely be fine for a

few years. Nies responded, saying "we're not trying to get by for five years. We're looking at 30

years down the road." Nies continued, mentioning the increase of operating costs every year,

including an increase in $1 million in the last two years. Nies said that a decision should be

made sooner rather than later. "If you keep stalling it out and doing nothing, you get to the

point where you just close the doors and be done," Nies said.

Related to that, new business manager Kevin Kocer presented a cost-saving analysis if

everything were moved to one site. There would be annual savings of approximately $263,110

in seven categories. There would be one less full-time custodian, saving $59,928, one-half less

full-time secretary, saving $29,773, and one less full-time food service employee, saving

$43,598. There would also be savings of $33,912 for utilities, $43,845 for maintenance and

operation costs, $40,000 for transportation, and $12,154 for teacher mileage.

Breuer also asked about the possibility of moving the 7th and 8th grades to Bloomington and

changing teacher schedules so they do not have to travel between schools. Athey responded

with the results of an anonymous teacher survey done earlier in the year, where 32 of 38

teachers said all teachers should be in one site if the grade configuration is changed. He also

mentioned a survey where 70 percent of 7th- and 8th-graders said they prefer school in Patch

Grove.

There were about 30 members of the public in attendance. A few members spoke on various

topics, including keeping the football field and track in Bloomington, and obtaining playground

equipment if the younger grades were moved to school in Patch Grove.

As there are still details to parse out, the Board will have further discussion of the long range

plan options at the next meeting July 21. The Board also requested a few pieces of information

by the next meeting: cost estimates for demolishing the Bloomington school; the possibility of

demolishing the Bloomington school and keeping the locker room and restroom facilities; and

construction costs for the baseball and softball fields not included in option four. The site

information in the PowerPoint will be posted to the district’s web site. Questions about the site

options and cost estimates can be emailed to hsoffice@rrsd.k12.wi.us.

The Board approved the hiring of a faculty and staff as well. Jan Block will be the district

librarian and work one day per week. Susana Magsig is the new Spanish teacher for grades 7-

12. Magsig previously taught Spanish for 10 years in Dodgeville. Rebecca Bjurquist is the new

elementary school special education teacher. Bjurquist previously taught in Prairie du Chien. All

staff positions for the upcoming school year are now filled.

Board member Cory Raisbeck said that a future agenda item should be the Board’s policy for

video and audio distribution of the meetings.

The next regular board meeting is Thursday, July 21 at 6 p.m.