Page 7 - TTWISept2020

Teaching Today Wisconsin | Back to School, 2020 Schools Under Construction Page 7

New Building Project Will Greet the New Year in St . Croix Falls

replacement, interior A “yes” committee was formed in November about 6000 square feet of space. The fitness
classroom painting and of 2019 for the April 2020 election date. Their center can serve students during the day in PE
ceiling were the main work was the critical piece in getting the pubic classes, it will serve student-athletes before and
items in this 10 facili- support needed for passage of this referendum. after school as well as allow our community
ties list. This referendum As the election neared, the pandemic con- education program to offer fitness classes to the
passed quite handily in cerned us as many people were now becoming general public. Students will have significantly
April of 2017. more and more concerned with the economic improved opportunities to learn life-long
As time continued impact this may have for their personal situa- fitness approaches. our Pe classes will have a
forward our discussion tion. The referendum ultimately passed. venue that can be used for both cardio training
turned to some things that Planning has started for this project. and muscle building/maintenance training.
we as a district thought we However; no actual construction will be taking While this referendum project did not
were lacking in facilities. place until after the new year. include any new gymnasium space, it in
This discussion took place These projects will impact students’ essence helped create additional gym availabil-
as we now had “a handle” careers at the St. Croix Falls School District for ity by moving the performing arts out of the
on the delayed mainte- years to come. It will allow for expansion of elementary school gym and into its own venue.
nance items in our existing our already robust fine arts programming. The We are fortunate to live in a district where
Mark C. Burandt, District Administrator buildings and grounds. Throughout the spring Performing Arts Center (PAC) will allow us to the taxpayers have been open to listening to
St. Croix Falls School District of 2019 the discussion eventually centered free up the elementary gymnasium in the fall of presentations about needs for our district to
The school district of St. Croix Falls on three areas in need of improvement: We every year as this has been where our musicals remain competitive in not only keeping our
embarked on discussions surrounding facili- really did not have a suitable place for per- and plays have been performed. Our band and resident students, but also in hopes of being
ties in fall of 2015. As state funding has had forming arts to have their events, our weight choirs will have a venue that will allow for effi- an attractive choice for families who may be
a difficult time keeping pace, many long term room which served grades 5–12 was really cient performances while allowing for a more moving to the area or for students who may
maintenance items had to be deferred. As the nothing more than an old classroom area and “professional” approach. The PAC can also be looking for an alternative school district to
discussion continued, it was decided to seek we had several district-owned vehicles stored function as a venue for regional conferences attend through Wisconsin’s open enrollment
funds from a referendum in spring of 2017 near our bus garage, but there was no space to if local organizations such as the Chamber of option.
for deferred maintenance projects. This total put them inside. We engaged an architectural Commerce, Rotary or the City should need a
sought 5.2 million dollars for use over a 10 firm to help decide upon a budget to accom- facility that can accomodate larger attendance.
year period to address delayed maintenance plish the three goals. The dollar figure decided The PAC will also be utilized by the district to www.scf.k12.wi.us
projects along with anticipated maintenance upon was 14 million dollars. The projected have guest presenters and performers.
projects . items such as roofing, HvAC, energy impact on the mil rate for taxpayers was to be The new fitness center will impact chil- (715) 483–2507
efficient lighting, pavement, doors/windows 55 cents per thousand dollars of assessed value. dren in several ways. The facility will give us

Better Buildings. Better Learning.
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CREATING SPACES THAT FOSTER
EDUCATION AND GROWTH

Stahl provides professional consulting, development, and general When it comes to K-12 facility improvements, we’ve done our
contracting, construction management, design/build, and IPD construction homework. Nexus understands the impact school buildings have on
services. We focus on the process of evolving the built environment to student achievement and provides districts with a comprehensive
create lasting good and ensure our partners find comprehensive success. solution for planning, funding, designing and building better facilities.

Let us help you solve your facilities problem:
Steve Schonert @ 262.422.1284 | Jeff Mangan @ 608.515.2632

www.stahlconstruction.com
NexusSolutions.com