By Jennifer Eisenbart
Editor
After three meetings where supporters pushed for a Montessori-only grade school and equal facilities across the board, a long-time local fiscal conservative blasted the long-range facilities planning the Burlington Area School District is undertaking.
Bonnie Ketterhagen, the wife of School Board Member Phil Ketterhagen, read a prepared statement Monday night in Karcher Middle School’s library at the final of four public information sessions regarding the future of the various buildings that comprise the school district.
Ketterhagen started by pointing out the district was in declining enrollment, in spite of adding a 4-year-old kindergarten program, and that more students opt out of the school district that come in under open enrollment. She contends students would not come for athletics or a new auditorium, but rather academics.
Ketterhagen said the planning format the district is using expressed “dreams and wants” versus “educational needs,” leading to a “false narrative.”
She also said options exist that would not require building any new facilities – either schools, or proposed gymnasium and fine arts space. Performing maintenance in those options, either across the buildings or to utilize the space in Karcher Middle School, would be her choice.
“A lot more information is needed before a raise in taxes that never goes away; never goes down; never gives relief to fixed income taxpayers,” Ketterhagen said. “Use what we have, no new builds.”
Ketterhagen drew applause from a woman sitting next to her, but then drew sharp criticism from two other people in the audience, including one man who declined to identify himself.
“I disagree with you and think most of what you said is hogwash,” he said. When Ketterhagen tried to interrupt him, he insisted on finishing, and added that it was the district’s obligation to move the process forward.
The other man who spoke was Kevin Brierly, an 18-year maintenance engineer of the district who recently retired. He said the buildings Karcher are not worth saving.
“This entire place needs to go,” Brierly said. “It’s too far gone to renovate or take a piece. Everything ties together. It’s a nightmare.”
Brierly also said the majority of the buildings in the district are underpowered and need upgrades, and added that the proposed athletic facility additions would better utilize space, cut down on the constant moving of equipment and allow the gymnastics program to move out of the basement gym –which is more than 90 years old – at Karcher.
He also said the district needed “flexible” learning spaces that could be used in a number of ways.
A handful of other people said improved facilities would draw more people to Burlington. Two people, who identified themselves as employees at Lavelle Industries and LDV, respectively, said expanding the Montessori options would draw more people to Burlington, adding that a Montessori option in a public school setting is unique.
Declining enrollment was also a discussion topic. Bonnie Ketterhagen brought up the topic in support of her platform, but Karcher Middle School Principal Jill Oelslager said the decline doesn’t equate to a need for less space.
She explained that even considering the loss of 50 students over the next 10 years – results from the Applied Population Lab study at the University of Wisconsin-Madison – would only result in a drop of between 1 and 2 students per classroom.
Oelslager then said students at Karcher move from room to room, meaning that there wouldn’t be full classrooms being shuttered.
Anneke Thompson, who had been present at the previous meetings, said additional performing arts space would likely be rented by businesses and dance studios throughout Burlington, leading to use beyond just the schools.
When asked late in the discussion, Superintendent Peter Smet said any projects would most likely hinge on referendum approval. He said payback of the prior referendum funding will be complete and removed from the property tax in 2019.
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