Energy efficiency is a focus of the Raymond School District, after the School Board voted Monday night not to exceed $3,000 for an energy audit to be conducted by energy conservation firm McKinstry.
The School Board moved forward with the idea of an energy audit after considering the results of a community survey about facility conditions – and concerns – at Raymond School, which was built in 1961.
“After receiving the survey results, we are trying to read what the community is saying they want, and what they are saying is that they did not like any of the four options,” School Administrator Joe Dawidziak explained.
The options included building a new school on the same site for $22 million, as well as critical safety/maintenance repairs and various renovations/upgrades, ranging from $5 million to $13 million.
The survey was sent out in November to district taxpayers after the school board presented comprehensive results of a facility audit at an Oct. 1 Community Workshop, which included a potential construction of a new school.
“We need to re-evaluate where we are at with that, because clearly we are not going to do something that people don’t want,” Dawidziak said Monday night.
McKinstry will examine the 50,000 square foot building in February and then will report on its audit by April.
Dawidziak stated taxpayers will not be billed any additional costs if the district opts out of continuing its agreement with McKinstry following the audit.
Dan Choi, Business Manager of McKinstry, told Board Members at Monday’s meeting that the school district will have full authorization of any expenses incurred during any future projects.
“We will come up with a grocery list of items that we found in the audit,” Choi said. “This is your project, not ours, so we will not do anything in a vacuum. We will show you all the information in regards to whatever projects make sense to you.”
The community survey sent out last November garnered 486 responses, and indicated 56 percent were in support of the school board pursuing a facility referendum within a year.
“We weren’t looking for a particular percentage and that is why we sent out the survey to try and gauge what community members feel they can support,” Dawidziak added.
Wisconsin state statutes call for school districts to hold a referendum when the spending amount exceeds $2,000,000.
Raymond School has tried unsuccessfully to pass facilities referendums in the past, with the last approved about 10 years ago.
McKinstry describes itself as one of the largest energy and facility service companies in the United States. It has worked on multiple public education facilities in Wisconsin, including three University of Wisconsin schools and the Medical College of Wisconsin.
The firm touted four areas during the presentation given to Board Members including providing cost effectiveness, helping defer maintenance, offering operational savings and bringing about an improved learning environment.
Raymond School Board members will discuss system design, contract approval and receive financial recommendations.
Choi told Board Members the district will have an option of selecting its own contractors to install any potential energy efficient equipment throughout the school.
“We are very big in terms of local participation and making sure it’s utilized, including preferred contractors,” Choi said.
“We are highly interested in local participation in all of our projects.”
McKinstry has completed projects within the State of Wisconsin as low as $300,000 to more than $20 million, he noted.
“Our projects can be a wide variety, depending on your needs and priorities,” Choi added.
-
-
-
-
-
Raymond School expects no increase in student population. Those that want a new school argue the school is just too old. It was built in 1961, Or that it is run down. It is a nice facility. Clean well maintained. (Although all the ceiling tiles had to be replaced due to mold. Did the maintenance people allow that much mold to grow?) Another reason advanced was there is no place for the elementary school kids to conduct a championship game for basketball. Really? At the meeting a tax rate was offered which would increase Property Taxes by about 1/3. Which would be a hardship. Especially with a slow economy and the projected changes in Healthcare. The last thing we need is an increase of that magnitude. Which is most likely why the $5 Million to $13 Million figure surfaced. This is the first I have heard of $5 to $13 Million. I attended the meeting at the school in the fall of 2013, held before the survey. At the meeting School officials were clearly for building a $20 New School. They complained there was no way to secure the building. However if you added secure doors in the hallway it could easily become secure. It was as though they were seeking ways to spend the taxpayer money. Not seeking ways to save taxpayer money. There does seem to be a very committed group of people that work at the school who stridently want a new school. The last referendum was voted down by a wide margin. It is just tough to find a reason to spend multiple millions of dollars when the economy is so bad for so many. Especially when the school functions well for academics. Everyone says it is a good school. (Although I have never heard anyone that is involved in a school say it was a bad school.) I wonder if an voluntary fund raising campaign could possibly work. The problem is that Raymond is so small. As of the 2000 census there were 1,245 households. Round up to 1,300 for the last 13 years. Divide 1300 into $20 million = $15,384 per household. Over 10 years if each household voluntarily gave $1,538 the goal would be met. It seems like an uphill battle to grow donations. But maybe it could work if an aggressive campaign were held.