Committee recommends more study
A long-awaited recommendation from the community Facilities Advisory Committee was presented to the Hamilton School Board with the suggestion that the district gather data about the community’s support for necessary projects and monitor the economic environment.
Maple Avenue parent Bob Fourness represented the 25-member committee as he presented its findings and interim recommendations. After more than three months of study that included community growth data, analysis of school funding issues and tours of each school, the committee agreed that it needed more information to make its final recommendation.
During its study, the committee concluded that:
- Conservative projections from municipalities show the district will gain 750 lots or units through 2006, with the most significant growth in the Woodside Elementary School attendance area.
- While district enrollment has grown about 1 percent in the last three years, community growth will likely fuel a 2 percent enrollment increase annually  or 78 students — for the next five years. Growth will occur first at the elementary level, then middle school and finally at the high school. Approximately 18 additional classrooms will be needed to handle additional students in 2002-03; four classrooms will be available.
- If sewer and water go in along Silver Spring Drive, additional growth beyond the anticipated increases will occur in the eastern portion of the district.
- Reducing class sizes by one to three students would require six additional elementary and three middle school classrooms. Staff costs would increase significantly as well. The administration recommended that the School Board monitor class sizes, but keep the current class size policy.
- The oldest section of Marcy Elementary School has structural and mechanical concerns, is not handicapped accessible and has substandard classrooms and an art room. The infrastructure in other areas needs updating, and the gym, lunchroom and kitchen areas are too small.
- Hamilton High School lacks adequate fine arts, athletic and library space.
- Templeton Middle School lacks a facility for all-school assemblies and gym space, and the auxiliary gym floor is warping.
- Willow Springs Learning Center is land locked and portions of the school are not ADA accessible.
- Lannon Elementary School’s large group area has become a computer lab.
- Maple Avenue Elementary School parking is limited.
- Storage at all facilities is a concern.
The Marcy concerns, more classrooms for elementary and middle school enrollment increases and better high school fine arts, athletic and library facilities topped the committee’s priorities.
Committee members favored creating a new middle school and reconfiguring the grade level rather than building a new elementary school and adding to Templeton.
“Templeton is as big a middle school as we would want to make it,” Fourness said.
The committee will reconvene Feb. 11 to finalize potential referendum recommendations, but asked the School Board to consider analyzing public support for facilities options using an objective survey process.
Superintendent Kathleen Cooke, Ph.D., said proposals are being sought and polling will likely begin within the next two weeks.
In addition to data indicating community support, changes in state funding and economic matters also will play an important role in determining the committee’s final recommendations. The final report is expected to go to the School Board in March.
Lannon lighting needs fixing
During the Citizen Comments portion of the meeting, Lannon resident Joyce Schieffer asked the board to consider lowering the main outside light at Lannon Elementary School and add lights in the back of the school. She said that since the remodeling project, the light that shines on Parkview Court is too bright. She said nearby residents miss the lights that had been in the back of the school because they provided a safer lighted environment.
Special Education gets OK
The School Board approved the Waukesha County Special Education Cooperative Contract and the Local Special Education Plan as presented by Special Services Supervisor Charlene DeGroot.
Aide approved
In personnel business, the School Board appointed Carmen Lalum as a Woodside teacher aide.