Facilities study update will determine building, educational needs

ELLSWORTH – Ellsworth School Board members heard at the Feb. 13 meeting that staffing changes are needed in the district, such as adding music, science, Spanish and health teachers.

Superintendent Barry Cain presented staffing proposals, which the board approved.

At the elementary school, two full-time music teachers will be employed, rather than the current. 1.25. The current full-time teacher teaches music to 620 students per day, Cain said. This addition would give students music every three days, which is equitable to art and phy ed (specialist classes). The estimated cost is a base salary of $78,694 with full insurance.

At the high and middle schools, the move will be made from 3.5 to four full-time science staff. Science class needs have been filled with interns and overloading existing teachers, Cain. The estimated cost for this change will be $43,245 costing.

Also at the high and middle schools, Athletic Director Adam Koger will move fulltime into that role, while the district with hire another full-time health/phy ed teacher at the high school. Koger will teach two courses throughout the year.

Other topics under consideration include:

• Lower 4K numbers

• Reviewing current section numbers and needs/options in the EHS business department, along with the Middle School Encore program

• District-wide Family Engagement Coordinator structure, Out of School Time grant staffing and “Get Kids Ahead” grant staffing “Creating full-time positions creates continuity, creates longevity,” Cain said.

Facilities planning

Tim Kittila of Kraus-Anderson gave the board a facilities study update. Kraus-Anderson performed a facility condition assessment in 2020, which was a thorough look at school district building needs.

“We make these a living assessment,” Kittila said. “Since that assessment occurred, you guys have accomplished a lot of work … and that is fantastic.”

Kraus-Anderson will provide a comprehensive facility study, which will include:

• Review existing Facility Condition Assessment and review district updates since completion of assessment

• Site visit to review existing building condition • Review of existing data

• Facilities walk through

• Identify and quantify needs and scope of maintenance

• Educational adequacy review and planning (i.e. CTE spaces, early childhood, flex space, classroom, etc.)

• Site review and evaluation, including but not limited to traffic flow, transportation, athletics, etc.

• Create preliminary cost estimates

• Build a 10-year maintenance plan

• Assist in prioritizing scope of work

• Create preliminary schedules and phasing plan for work to be completed

• School Board and administrative updates as needed The process will include:

• Site visit and site interview with key facility personnel (as available).

• Initial findings review and deferred maintenance review (including approximation of costs)

• Facility Condition Index (measurement of building condition)

• Kraus-Anderson Facility Condition Assessment tool inclusive of complete deferred maintenance list

• Final report The board approved the contract for a cost of $8,500. The study will analyze two different buckets of dollars, Kittila said, between educational adequacy and facilities maintenance. For example, is the 1975 EHS tech ed wing adequate? Are students getting the opportunities and curriculum they need to succeed in those type of careers?

The building and site tours will allow KA to dig into mechanical and electrical systems, interior finishes, building envelope, traffic constraints, athletic fields, etc. The study will take into consideration “the wicked inflation” that has hit the past year as well.

“At the end of the day, what we’ll give you is a total cost and an annualized plan,” Kittila said. “We will educate citizens on some of the gaps compared to other school districts and communities.”

The study comes as board tries to decide whether a facilities referendum is a possibility for the April 2024 ballot.

“The best spend for this community is to stay on top of facilities maintenance, which this district is doing,” Cain said. “This gives us the big picture of that facility needs side. You never come to referendum with something the community says they don’t want, right?”

Personnel report

The board approved the following personnel changes:

Hires: Abby Ashauer, Out of School Time Program school social worker; Kimberly Bruesewitz, Before & After School Time program director; Casey Joyce, first grade teacher: Randi Kirchner, food service assistant; Mitchell Smith, high school/middle school guidance counselor

Resignations: Rose Ebbenga, elementary teaching assistant; Madison Feld, elementary speech therapist assistant

Retirements: Ryan Casper, high school social studies teacher; Shelly Nelson, elementary art teacher; Laura Swancutt, elementary teaching assistant/Panther Kids’ Club director Extra/co-curriculars: Anika Borner,

mentor; Tom Diercks, high school varsity softball coach; Mitchell Smith, virtual learning coordinator

Other business

The board approved the Safe Return to School Plan, which by law it must do every six months in order to receive federal ESSER funds.

The board acknowledged the EES Family Literacy event, which drew more than 100 attendees on World Read Aloud Day; the retirement of EHS floor hockey coach Stacey Robey; the success of Winter Fest at EMS; and the EHS dance team’s trip to state.

The board convened to closed session for a discussion on “staff initial notice of non-renewal.” No action was taken.