By Jason Arndt
Correspondent
Residents within the Raymond School District are facing tough decisions about their school facility following a community workshop held Oct. 1, where the District unveiled a three-month study conducted by Milwaukee-based architectural firm Eppstein Uhen identifying the needs of the school, which was built in 1961.
Security is one of four areas identified as deficient by the firm – along with an aging building structure, inadequate space and prolonged use of temporary classrooms spanning a decade.
“Our biggest concern is the security: who is coming into the building and making sure that they should be here,” explained school Communications Director Barb Messick.
The building entrances are locked and officials identify and allow visitors entry using cameras directed outside.
“We tell them to come into the office and sometimes they don’t,” Messick explained. “Either they didn’t hear us or they just think they don’t need to. They must come into the office to sign in.”
Excessive moisture and evidence of degraded sewage pipes were identified in the study and the school recently dealt with a mold outbreak that nearly delayed the start of school.
“We had the teachers throw all of their stuff,” School Administrator Joe Dawidziak explained. “It was right before labor day weekend when we found out. So we had four days.”
The school utilizes five humidifiers to reduce moisture and minimize future mold buildup – and has done mold remediation three times in the school’s history.
“It is so damp in this area and the humidity is so high here,” Bettinger told residents during a tour of a science classroom.
Dawidziak told the 70 residents and 20 faculty members at the workshop that some of the pipes are exposed and lead to sewage entering the ground beneath the school.
A “Could we take a bulldozer and start over?” comment asked during a focus group at the workshop drew the loudest applause after a resident.
There is a wide variety of costs associated with the potential of a new building or renovating the 52-year-old structure.
Craig Uhlenbrauck of Miron Construction gave a rough estimate of $20 million for a new building.
“That number was thrown out and I don’t know if it’s going to be 20 million, 15 million or 25 million,” commented Raymond resident, Charles Craven.
Craven said he is interested in learning more about a long-term solution for the school. “I think further study needs to be done and identify what kind of facility they want and do some number crunching so we can get a much more accurate estimate of what the cost will be,” he explained.
In addition, the school recently came into a mold outbreak and nearly jeopardized the start of the year before utilizing $65,000 to remove the problem. It presently uses five humidifiers around the school to minimize the issue.
“The other thing in my mind that needs to be done initially here is that they need to solve the problem underneath the facility and underneath the pipes,” Craven commented.
There were also incidents where faulty drainage systems led to standing water in both the kitchen and bathroom near the gymnasium.
Due to unclear costs abour current options, and the rejection of two referendums held in 2003, some Raymond residents offered their opinions about holding another vote in 2014.
“You have people in my age group who have not been in the building for years who believe it is fine,” former teacher Arla Ertl said. “It is up to people in my age group to show them.”
Ertl served as a Raymond teacher for decades and witnessed the development of the school in 1961.
Some people who don’t want to pay more taxes will just figure that the school is good enough the way it is, Ertl added.
She talked about the learning conditions students have in two temporary classrooms housed in the back of the school.
“I know for a fact that they are too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter,” Ertl added. “They are not conducive to good learning.”
In addition, Union Grove Elementary has taken on many special needs students unable to attend Raymond School due to unavailable rooms and equipment needed to teach basic life skills.
Raymond School is located at 2659 76th St. in Franksville. Information regarding the Community Workshop can be found at http://raymond.k12.wi.us/facility-planning/
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