Otselic Valley considers options for buildings

SOUTH OTSELIC –The Otselic Valley School Board met Wednesday to honor a retiring board member and to discuss possible building options for the district.

The meeting started on a bittersweet note, as long-time board member Dan Brown was presented with a plaque for 10 years of service.

“We want to take the opportunity to recognize Dan for his 10 years of experience. He’s done a great job serving the school and he will be missed,” said Board President Greg Brown.

Many items were on the agenda for the night, but one of the most discussed was the facilities planning update. Superintendent Larry Thomas told the board and the people present about the most recent meeting of the facilities planning committee.

“The reason the group came together was five-fold. The taxpayers have asked us to investigate measures to limit the amount of the tax increase,” he said. The committee looked at their options, a possible merger with another district (which they decided immediately was not the way they wanted to go), combining the Georgetown Elementary School and South Otselic Jr./Sr. High School into one building, or upgrading both buildings.

Thomas listed some of the reasons the changes are necessary, pointing to the need for technology updates, more hands-on learning, and a different layout. If each building were renovated and upgraded separately, he said changes at the elementary school would include the addition of some classrooms, the expansion of the kitchen and nurse’s station areas and solving heating issues.

“We’re hopeful that we will be able to have a school-based clinic at some point,” he said.

The cost for upgrading the elementary school would be $3.2 million, of which officials estimate they would receive $2.9 million in aid.

Improvements at the high school would include adding classrooms, changing the placement of the main office to make it closer to the main entrance, and adding a new library learning center. The high school upgrades total $7.2 million, of which $6.5 million is estimated to be received in aid.

Total for both projects would be $10.5 million, of which the taxpayers would have to deal with $100,000 over a 30-year period.

“If we keep both campuses where they are and do the renovation project, we do have some improvements to the property, but there will be no significant change in staffing,” Thomas said. “It would not have a large impact in a positive way to saving money.”