Preliminary report expected in September
The Raymond School District Board of Education recently hired Eppstein Uhen Architects (EUA) of Mil- waukee to conduct a comprehensive facility assessment of Raymond School, which was built in 1961.
The study includes a detailed evaluation of the school building and site, and will offer an objective analysis of how the school currently delivers educational programs and services to students in grades 4K-8.
According to a media release from the District, the study is the first step in a detailed master planning process that is taking place in coming months, as the district responds to growing concerns about an aging facility. It will also help establish short- and long-term priorities for addressing facility needs.
EUA and its consulting engineers have been actively reviewing the school in recent weeks, noted Superintendent/Principal Joseph Dawidziak, closely inspecting the building to assess its condition.
They also talked directly with staff before the school year ended, observing how the school serves students on a daily basis.
The study will establish a foundation of knowledge about the current conditions of Raymond School that includes assessments of:
• security;
• handicapped accessibility and code compliance;
• infrastructure components such as roofing, mechanical and electrical systems, heating/ventilation, plumbing, and lighting; technology infrastructure;
• instructional spaces; and
• site circulation/parking.
“Conducting this study is an important step in helping us validate issues we know are affecting our school and our students,” Dawidziak explained in the release.
“District residents who completed a brief survey earlier this year acknowledged that we have serious facility needs that require investigation and resolution,” he added.
“This process, coupled with continued community input, will guide us in making financially sound, long-term decisions to protect our community’s investment in Raymond School and further our efforts to increase student achievement,” Dawidziak said.
The Raymond district anticipates receiving a summary of EUA’s findings at a school board meeting to be held in September, he added.
After receiving the report, the School Board will then discuss taking the next step in the process – exploring potential solutions to the district’s identified needs – and engaging the broader community before making any long-term decisions, Dawidziak said.
For more information, contact Dawidziak at (262) 835-2929 Ext. 101.
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