After deciding to raze the Emerson School Building, the Stevens Point Area Public School District Board took action to find the Alternative School a permanent home by passing a motion to purchase the Professional Building in downtown Stevens Point when it met Monday, Dec. 17.
The Alternative School had been housed in the Emerson Building until October when the board ordered Emerson closed because it was unsafe. The Alternative school was then moved, on a temporary basis, to the Professional Building.
However, the planned purchase of the building, for approximately $450,000, doesn't guarantee that the Alternative School will stay there. The board also discussed the possibility of moving the district's offices to the Professional Building and moving the Alternative School to Bliss Center.
A report to the board by Sommerville Architects showed a cost difference of approximately $85,000 between sending the Alternative School to Bliss as opposed to leaving it in the Professional Building.
If the Alternative School stays downtown, estimated renovation costs are $431,400 compared to $234,400 to renovate it for administrative purposes. The difference in cost is because of different codes that are applicable for the different uses.
The costs could be lowered to approximately $230,000 for the Alternative School and approximately $57,300 for administrative use if the district chose to only do the modifications required by state codes as opposed to a full renovation to make the most efficient use of the space.
The cost to renovate the Bliss Center for the Alternative School would be $282,600 for a complete renovation or $53,700 to bring it up to code.
One obstacle to keeping the Alternative School downtown is that the district would need a conditional-use permit to operate it and there is no guarantee the city would grant it.
The board made no decision regarding which option it would choose but directed staff to compile a list of pros and cons to each location for discussion at a future board meeting.
Board Member Mike O'Meara said the board would need to make a decision in January to give the Common Council enough time to consider a conditional use request. He said if the district made the request in January, the Common Council would likely be able to act by March, giving the district enough time to plan renovations for the summer.