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District will move headquarters to Regal Office building
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By ANDREW KUEHL
5/2/08 KEWASKUM- Over 87 voters turned out to hear a plan by the school district to lease 6,000 square feet of office space from Regal Ware, Inc. at a special meeting of the electorate on Monday, April 28. Electors voted 47 to 40 in favor of a $60,000 a year lease, not to exceed 10 years. As of Thursday, May 1, The Statesman has learned a lease has been signed.
School officials sought the lease after approving the start of an alternative school in the district. That school, being named Kewaskum Career Academy was given the green light to begin at the April monthly board meeting held two weeks prior. Kewaskum Career Academy will be located inside the current administration building leaving administrators and clerical staff looking for a new home.
In order to lease office space for the district, a special meeting of the electorate was required. The lease then required approval by residents in the district.
Superintendent of Schools Mike Krumm, greeted the electors and explained why he believed the move was in the best interest of the school district. He first advocated the need for combining all members of the school district’s leadership team in the district into a central office. Currently administration is mixed between the current administration building and Kewaskum Elementary School (KES) and Kewaskum High School (KHS).
Krumm stated this would aid in effective communication and the ability to cross train administrators and their assistants. “We look to improve our efficiency,” he stated. “We have great offices, a great situation, we don’t look at our selves as going to new plush quarters, our offices are terrific. But we feel we’re making this move not for us, this is in the best interest of the kids and the interest of the school district,” he concluded.
Associate KHS Principal Anne Ignatowski explained the development and concept of the plan. She stated that she and various educators in the district explored the idea shortly after the end of last year’s school session. Their first step was visiting alternative schools around the state and attending various seminars on how to begin a school.
Ignatowski indicated that through their education they learned above all to be successful the school must be placed away from the current high or middle school.
The need for the school came after finding students were not fitting into the traditional high school learning model. This became evident in the increasing numbers of students being sent to other alternative schools and an increase in students going to Moraine Park Technical College (MPTC) to receive their General High School Education Degrees (HSEDG). Lastly, there is a spike in the number of students who are dealing with pregnancy issues as well as students dealing with alcohol, drug or other addictions.
The cost of a student getting that degree at MPTC costs taxpayers about $105.48 weekly. Students attend MPTC anywhere from six to nine months to achieve that degree.
To get a student enrolled, they must be deemed at risk through parameters set by the state of Wisconsin. Teachers guidance counselors, principals, parents and the student will also be involved. Students are not forcefully placed into the academy. Once accepted, the student will need to sign a contract that he or she will adhere to the rules of the academy.
Academy students will be required to receive 28 credits, the same as those at KHS. Most importantly, they must accumulate the core credits as set by the state must be received, those are: four credits of English, two each of math and science, one and a half of physical education and a half credit of health. Once those are received students will be able to get half of their credits through work or volunteer experience.
Ignatowski stated that an interdisciplinary curriculum joined by group projects would be used. Each student will have his or her individual needs addressed in a class with a student-teacher ratio of 15-1.
The sessions will run from 9 a.m. to noon or 1 p.m. till 4 p.m. While not in class, students will be required to hold a job or do volunteer work.
Once the student meets all requirements they would be given a diploma from KHS and possibly graduate with their class. They will also be allowed to participate in extra curricular activities at KHS.
KHS Special Education Instructor Jeff Gosse, will be the Academy’s instructor. Ignatowski stated he is working to get his alternative school license, which the district will pay for.
Ignatowski stated that a graduate of the academy could go on to post high school education opportunities.
“First year will cost district $153,060”
Business Manager Paul Reichert explained the current administration building is ideal because there is rent, has ample space, expandable and is in close proximity to KHS. He explained that three offices would have their walls demolished and made into a single classroom.
One office will be renovated into a conference area. One office will remain that will be used by Gosse and a paraprofessional. A small office by a guidance counselor will also be added. The cost of the remodeling, amounting to $40,825 will come from the maintenance budget.
The move to Regal Ware is expected to cost $52,235. The district will pay $60,000 annually the first two years of the five-year lease. An increase of between three and four percent will be added to the lease cost in the remaining years. Reichert says that money has already been budgeted for the entire project and will not raise the tax levy. The money will come from the 2007-‘08 maintenance budget.
This includes the use of 6,000 square feet and more than 30 parking stalls. The district will have a separate front entrance and rear employee entrance. The district is also welcome to use Regal’s copy center and their large conference area located directly below the district’s new office. A total of 14 people will occupy the new office.
“We’re getting a very good deal from Regal Ware,” Reichert said.
Schulte asked what happens if Regal Ware sells the building. Reichert explained there is a clause in the lease that requires any new owners of the building to adhere to the terms of the lease. He went on to say the Reigle family is very much set on keeping their headquarters in Kewaskum he has been told.
Neal Weare asked what would happen if in five years the voters decide not to renew a lease. Reichert explained the district would then be forced to split up the various administrators into buildings owned by the district.
Before entertaining the idea of opening up the administration building to the Kewaskum Career Academy, Reichert stated three vacant properties were looked at. The former liquor store next to the post office required extensive remodeling before the district could use it. The former Video Plus store in the Kewaskum Mall was discussed, however the district was told the utilities were very expensive. Lastly, the former Coast to Coast Hardware Store on Fond du Lac Avenue was found to be not conducive to a school setting.
Portable classrooms were also investigated at a cost of $300,000.
Village of Kewaskum Trustee Kevin Scheunemann stated he thought the facilities plan was not acceptable. He asked why the Municipal Building Annex owned by the village of Kewaskum was not considered. Reichert stated he did not know it was available or it would have been investigated.
Irene Gnacinski motioned to allow the district to lease the regal property for a period of five years, not to exceed 10 years. Stephen Jensen seconded her motion and won 47-40.
Reichert stated later that a lease agreement should be completed and ready to be signed by the end of the week. Subject to approval from Regal Ware, the district could start renovating the property as early as May 12. He anticipated a move date the first week in June.
Regal has since vacated that portion of the building.
Reichert is anticipating the current administration building be closed by the end of June and renovations begin shortly thereafter so the Kewaskum Career Academy could be open at the start of the new school year.
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