Burlington, News

New facility for construction students OK’d

By Jennifer Eisenbart

Editor

A new learning environment for the Burlington High School Architecture, Construction and Engineering Academy students was approved Monday night.

The Burlington Area School District School Board Buildings, Grounds and Transportation Committee approved the $306,502 project, which involves moving the students out of a 1,200-square-foot classroom at the Gateway Technical College HERO Center and into the main building of Gateway’s Burlington campus.

Students will get more than triple the amount of space (4,800 square feet). The district’s share of the total project cost will be between $112,000 and $115,000.

The Associated General Contractors of Wisconsin – which works with the BHS ACE Academy program – will pick up $75,000 of the cost, while Gateway agreed to split the difference with BHS.

 

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The committee also approved an ACE Academy project that involves building a pavilion behind the track and field area for use by all sports.

The materials and time are being donated, but BHS Athletic Director Eric Plitzuweit got scolded by School Board President Jim Bousman for not bringing the item before the board for approval previous to starting.

“Approvals were not done ahead of time,” said BASD Superintendent Peter Smet, adding that the group wanted to get the concrete footing poured before the ground froze.

School Board Member Kevin Bird also stressed the work that has been done– including the placing of dugouts and banners – needs to be recognized due to the donation of time, materials and money by others.

The committee also approved the deed restriction for the PAC House, so that if the district ever sells the property that it would revert to residential zoning.

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