I feel it is important for all in the community to talk about this proposed $22 million referendum BEFORE the vote on April 2nd. We owe it to the school board and administrator Jeff Koenig to give this proposal a hard look. The time and efforts they took to get here are not without merit. Taking their valuable time to come up with this proposal did not happen overnight. So, please, let’s give them a mature and responsible way for them to communicate with us all before the vote. Along with the editor of this publication we will examine this on a six-week forum. Your involvement can directly determine the outcome.
Many would instantly vote no based on the numbers: which do turn out to be taxpayer’s dollars. But let’s go through this together. I and Mr. McLoone will ask the board questions relating to the referendum directly and they in turn will have the week to respond which will be published here. It will start with generic/ broad questions and based on the school board’s answers become more specific. So, one-week questions, following week answers.
I hope over this six week journey we become informed to not only the reason those that represent us came to this ask; but also, why it is needed. I for one am the first to admit I have not spent enough time leading up to this point to understand the “needs” of the school. So, I hope this can be “educational” for us all: for or against it. Questions that move the conversation forward will be considered.
If you have a specific question you would like to ask our school board specifically about this project, please share with this publication at john@thepaperboy.news

Respectfully,
Dan Plombon

Question 1: What are the main goals of this project?

The district has been planning for our long-term facility needs since 2018. Over the years, the board has been reviewing our existing facilities and taken action to address necessary repairs and maintenance. A facility study was conducted in the summer of 2020 to help identify any hidden problems we may not be aware of in our buildings.
Since the facility study, we have replaced the majority of roof surfaces on both our main building in Stanley as well as the Early Learning Center in Boyd. We have replaced doors, flooring, and sections of plumbing, as well. Our facility study revealed additional issues like moisture/drainage problems around our buildings and substructure problems in our middle school locker room area.
Although some drainage issues could be repaired when we resurfaced the parking lot in Boyd, the drainage issues on the north side of the main building in Stanley required much more extensive work. The bus loop project solved our drainage problems while alleviating some of the stress on our drop-off/pick-up issues on the south side of the building. The middle school locker remodel allowed us to address the substructure issues while creating an additional classroom and bathrooms. The additional bathrooms allow us separate bathrooms for middle and elementary school students.
The upper elementary school required substantial remodeling due to undersized classrooms and infrastructure issues. This involved expanding classroom sizes, creating offices for specialists, improving facilities for students with special needs, and expanding the art room.
While these projects stayed within the district budget, feedback from the community and staff highlighted additional areas needing attention, including improved performance spaces, increased gym space, enhanced school security, and upgraded Technology Education facilities.
After consultations with staff and the Facility Advisory Committee, priorities were established. Some improvements could be accommodated within the existing budget, while others required additional taxpayer support. Priorities needing extra funding include relocating the district office, constructing more gym space, and enhancing cafeteria efficiencies.
The district office is currently in the center of the building. With an increased emphasis on school security, our goal is to move the district office to the edge of the building to create a more secure entrance. The district office is the only office open year-round. Relocating the office near a building entrance would improve public accessibility and occupant safety by creating a year-round monitored and more secure entrance. Relocating the district office would also eliminate the need for visitors to walk through the majority of the building for their visit.
Our current high school gym doubles as an event and performance space. Plays, concerts, assemblies, banquets, and community events all take place in our gym. Our proposed project includes upgrades to our current gym to create a better performance space for all groups. Improvements would improve acoustics, audio systems, lighting, and seating.
Although many people do not see gym space as instructional space, it is used throughout the day for classes. Frequently, our physical education classes are displaced to classrooms or hallways when an event takes place in our gyms. All of the events mentioned earlier displace our classes. The problem is compounded when our students are not able to go outside due to weather or when the pool is not available. Also, activity usage of our gyms begins many days at 6:00 AM and goes until 9:00 PM. Many of our varsity teams alternate early (3:30-5:45) and late (5:45-7:45) practice times to utilize the gyms. Teams and groups who ask to use our gyms are often disappointed to hear our gyms are not available because they are already in use by a different group. Increased gym space would alleviate the majority of our problems.
We currently operate two cafeterias within our main building. Food service staff can be seen throughout the day moving food and materials between the cafeterias. One cafeteria space would increase our efficiencies in food preparation, food storage and serving, cafeteria supervision, and cleanup. Increased student common areas can be used for instruction, informal learning, community groups, and for separating different age groups while eating. Scheduling would also ensure students from our different buildings would not eat in the same location.
These projects are part of ongoing long-term facility plans, with a future focus on instructional space improvements and continued building repairs within the district budget.

Submitted by Superintendent Jeff Koenig