BY STAR-NEWS STAFF
ALGOMA – Voters in the Algoma School District will see a referendum question on the April 2 ballot which includes funding to address safety and security, infrastructure issues and classroom needs.
In 2022, a comprehensive facility study prepared by McKinstry, Madison, and Bayland Builders, Hobart, identified work needed in the district’s buildings, classrooms and security systems.
The Algoma School Board formed a Community Advisory Committee (CAC), consisting of 35 district staff and community members, to review the study and make recommendations to the board.
A survey was then mailed out to district residents asking for community input, with 476 or 19% of the community responding.
On Jan. 8, the school board voted to adopt a resolution asking the community to approve a $10.05 million capital needs referendum. “This referendum is a result of work from the 35-plus member Community Advisory Committee (CAC) representing a broad cross-section of our community, who were tasked with identifying long-term solutions to address the pressing facility needs of our school district. Their work resulted in a plan to address our aging facilities and infrastructure while providing improved learning spaces to support educational and community programming. The scope of the proposed plan honors the extensive work done by the CAC, is consistent with community-wide survey results, and provides comprehensive solutions to support our schools and community,” the school board stated in a community newsletter.
The following were identified as needs by the CAC and community survey: spaces to better support educational programs; safe and secure entrances and classrooms; aging infrastructure (primarily plumbing and roof replacement); additional locker and storage capacity for physical education; track resurfacing; parking lot resurfacing at middle/high school; increased energy efficiency; audio and lighting improvements in the Performing Arts Center; and playground accessibility for all students.
Recommendations for work on the middle/high school include the remodeling of educational spaces, including improvements to band/choir, technology education, agriculture education, special education and Algoma Venture Academy; resurfacing of the track and replacing parking lot; improving safety and security by re-keying interior and exterior doors; implementing a visitor identification system and creating a secure entrance; replacing old windows and doors; upgrading lighting, mechanical systems and water conservation for energy efficiency.
Recommendations for the elementary school identified the need to repair leaking sections of the roof; replace the original 94-year-old plumbing; replace failing doors and windows; add inclusive playground surface so all can play safely; provide Performing Arts Center with new lighting and sound system; and resurface playground to ensure accessibility for all.
The district will borrow the funding to finance the projects and according to district leaders the referendum will be “phased in” and will not affect the mill rate. (See chart)
“If the referendum were to fail, the school board and administrative team would need to reassess our long-term financial situation, looking at how we can meet the needs of replacing our 94-year-old plumbing that is leaking at the elementary school, repair leaking roofs and upgrade safety and security across the district,” said Algoma School Superintendent Jesse Brinkmann.
The district will hold two community information sessions on March 12 at the Elementary Performing Arts Center with a tour of the school at 5-6 p.m. and a presentation at 6-7 p.m.; and on March 21 in the middle school/high school library with a tour of the school at 5-6 p.m. and a presentation at 6-7 p.m.
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