By HEATHER CLARK
for The Gazette
Stevens Point Area Public School Board members will have to decide for themselves what items to include in a November referendum to address district space needs.
Members said they were hoping to get guidance from a public forum Monday night but none of the roughly 25 people who attended voiced an opinion on what aspects of a $68 million laundry list of needs were acceptable or unacceptable.
Just a handful of people spoke, mostly asking for more information or clarification on needs. Some offered the board advice on how to educate the community when building up to the referendum's voting date, Nov. 2.
"Show how healthy we are financially and how easily we can fund everything on that list and the operating costs," said Bill Hettler, Stevens Point. "I don't think most people in the community think we can afford to fund that."
Michele Bjella, a member and officer of the area Parent-Teacher-Student Association and Parent-Teacher Organization, said an effort should be made to bring the facts regarding the needs to community members. For example, she said, bus tours could be given to the schools so people can see first-hand items like classes being held in storage rooms.
Another community member questioned how long the projects included in this referendum would last the district and still another asked about a time frame for completion.
Officials expect to borrow for the projects over a three-year period, with the district borrowing $18 million, $24 million and $26 million respectively over that time. Plans call for all construction to be completed in six years.
The solutions offered to address needs such as relieving storage room classes, providing for additional instruction space including the new all-day kindergarten program, upgrading maintenance, heating and ventilation, reducing the operating capacity in buildings to between 85 and 90 percent, and providing equitable programming through pool and auditorium additions should carry the district the next 15 to 20 years, board members say.
But there is a caveat, one said.
"We have a state government and a federal government," board member Mary Thurmaier said. "We keep seeing additional mandates and mandates make a difference and you can't outguess what the government is going to do.
"Don't come back to us in five years and say, 'Gee, why did this happen?'" if there is another referendum at that time, she said, "when mandates are being added to the curriculum."
"This is about as big a picture as you can have," board member Scott Schultz added. "It's a good plan and it's intended to serve the community's needs."
Community members expressed concern that there has not been information about technology needs or operating costs provided yet. Officials said some plans are being looked at. After a meeting Monday to prioritize and possibly trim the project list, board members will decide on such matters at a Monday, Aug. 23, meeting.
Another district resident questioned whether the Alternative High School program could be housed in another building rather than construct a new facility. Superintendent Emery Babcock said the district looked at costs for relocating to the former Rice Clinic building but concluded upgrades there would cost the same as razing the existing structure and rebuilding.
There also was mention from those attending that the district provide more public accessibility to facilities such as the swimming pool.