OV enrollment survey could mean additional funds for building project
SOUTH OTSELIC – After receiving an enrollment projection study, the Otselic Valley Board of Education was able to get a better idea of how much state aid they may get if they pursue a capital building project.
According to Superintendent Larry Thomas, the study showed three possible enrollment scenarios for the district. The low projections showed enrollment figures shrinking to approximately 352 students, district wide. The high projections showed the student population reaching 492. Currently the school serves approximately 400 students.
“The study shows that we are most likely going to level out with the number of those graduating out and those coming in at kindergarten. It’s mostly leveled now,” Thomas said. The projections showed the increase at the high end of the spectrum would come from transfers into the district during the upper levels.
The enrollment study was one item the school needed before they could continue looking at a major building project. The OV school district is examining the possibility of creating a combined kindergarten through 12 grade campus. Currently the school is divided between the elementary school in Georgetown and the Junior / Senior High School in South Otselic.
Steve Faisure, a representative from Bearsch Compeau Knudson Architects and Engineers, attended the meeting to give the board an updated look at possible building plans. The combined campus would be created by making renovations and additions to the South Otselic Campus.
According to Faisure, the company had originally calculated a total maximum cost allowance of $11,793,000. The maximum cost allowance calculates aid from the State Education Department. “Due to the aid ratio, anything above that amount is not aidable,” Faisure said. “So we try to keep the total project cost as close to the maximum cost allowance as possible.” Preliminary estimates show a total project cost of $15,557,000, a difference of $3,764,000. Faisure explained that due to the high end enrollment figures, the school may be able to receive an additional $1.5 million in cost allowance, cutting down on the cost to the tax payers.
The preliminary plans for the combined campus show significant changes to the high school. A new wing would be built on the back side of the building, creating a second cafeteria and gymnasium, a new library and class room space. An addition would also be built on the second story of the building creating science rooms with more lab space than currently available, and several additional classrooms. The plans also call for the renovation of some existing features, including repositioning the main office closer to the entrance .
During Facility Committee Meetings, potential issues were brought up, and Faisure attempted to address those concerns at the board meeting. One issue had been the aging bus garage, which would be seeing double the traffic, the lack of adequate parking and the increased traffic the school could see.
Faisure’s plans showed the construction of a new bus garage located in the rear portion of the parking lot. “Moving the bus garage will provide additional parking spaces and will give vehicles an easier entrance and exit at the current bus garage location. Parking spaces will also be created behind the school, providing a total of 110 parking spots. This change will mean the baseball field and soccer fields will have to be repositioned. The soccer fields will be slightly smaller than they are currently, but Faisure assured the board at 300 feet by 175 feet, they will still be within the regulation size. The repositioning of the fields will also create room for a playground area.
“We’re trying to minimize our encroachment into the wooded area,” Faisure explained to the board. “It’s going to be tight, but it is doable.”
Once the scope of the project has been finalized, Faisure said he will work to refine the cost magnitudes of the school construction project and the bus garage project and start to perform soil borings at the construction area. The district will most likely vote on the referendum for the project in October.
According to Superintendent Larry Thomas, the study showed three possible enrollment scenarios for the district. The low projections showed enrollment figures shrinking to approximately 352 students, district wide. The high projections showed the student population reaching 492. Currently the school serves approximately 400 students.
“The study shows that we are most likely going to level out with the number of those graduating out and those coming in at kindergarten. It’s mostly leveled now,” Thomas said. The projections showed the increase at the high end of the spectrum would come from transfers into the district during the upper levels.
The enrollment study was one item the school needed before they could continue looking at a major building project. The OV school district is examining the possibility of creating a combined kindergarten through 12 grade campus. Currently the school is divided between the elementary school in Georgetown and the Junior / Senior High School in South Otselic.
Steve Faisure, a representative from Bearsch Compeau Knudson Architects and Engineers, attended the meeting to give the board an updated look at possible building plans. The combined campus would be created by making renovations and additions to the South Otselic Campus.
According to Faisure, the company had originally calculated a total maximum cost allowance of $11,793,000. The maximum cost allowance calculates aid from the State Education Department. “Due to the aid ratio, anything above that amount is not aidable,” Faisure said. “So we try to keep the total project cost as close to the maximum cost allowance as possible.” Preliminary estimates show a total project cost of $15,557,000, a difference of $3,764,000. Faisure explained that due to the high end enrollment figures, the school may be able to receive an additional $1.5 million in cost allowance, cutting down on the cost to the tax payers.
The preliminary plans for the combined campus show significant changes to the high school. A new wing would be built on the back side of the building, creating a second cafeteria and gymnasium, a new library and class room space. An addition would also be built on the second story of the building creating science rooms with more lab space than currently available, and several additional classrooms. The plans also call for the renovation of some existing features, including repositioning the main office closer to the entrance .
During Facility Committee Meetings, potential issues were brought up, and Faisure attempted to address those concerns at the board meeting. One issue had been the aging bus garage, which would be seeing double the traffic, the lack of adequate parking and the increased traffic the school could see.
Faisure’s plans showed the construction of a new bus garage located in the rear portion of the parking lot. “Moving the bus garage will provide additional parking spaces and will give vehicles an easier entrance and exit at the current bus garage location. Parking spaces will also be created behind the school, providing a total of 110 parking spots. This change will mean the baseball field and soccer fields will have to be repositioned. The soccer fields will be slightly smaller than they are currently, but Faisure assured the board at 300 feet by 175 feet, they will still be within the regulation size. The repositioning of the fields will also create room for a playground area.
“We’re trying to minimize our encroachment into the wooded area,” Faisure explained to the board. “It’s going to be tight, but it is doable.”
Once the scope of the project has been finalized, Faisure said he will work to refine the cost magnitudes of the school construction project and the bus garage project and start to perform soil borings at the construction area. The district will most likely vote on the referendum for the project in October.
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