A junior high school in Fairbury is now the focus of the Prairie Central Board of Education after another special meeting Monday night on facilities.
Board members seemed to favor exploring the option of a more centralized building housing sixth through eighth grade students. The news came as new options were revealed by board president John Wilken following previous discussion and input from board members.
These options, all including a new 6-8 junior high in Fairbury, include:
Plan #5: K-5 west at the current PC Elementary and K-5 east in today’s junior high for $79.4 million.
Plan #7: K-2 east at the current Upper Elementary and K-2 west in Chenoa with 3-5 in Forrest at the current junior high for $79.4 million.
Plan #8: Primary East and Primary West unchanged with 2-3 at the current PC Elementary and 4-5 at the current junior high in Forrest for $76.3 million.
“I’d say Plan #5 is the most consolidated plan we have without question,” said Wilken.
Board member Tim McGreal said he would rather have a new junior high close to the high school, if he had to choose, but is concerned about potentially putting a K-5 facility in the vicinity due to issues such as traffic flow.
“The City of Fairbury has been really good to work with,” noted Superintendent Paula Crane.
McGreal wondered if the junior high and high school ag and I.T. departments could share space in a building that already exists to save costs. Crane is not a fan of sharing any space unless buildings were connected, due to safety concerns.
“In 20 years’ time, a centralized district is almost inevitable,” observed board member Brad Duncan.
Board member Ben Stoller seemed to support the junior high plan along with the possibility of a new PK-5 facility to replace the current Prairie Central Elementary in Fairbury, formerly known as Westview.
“That’s one building I would be an advocate of getting rid of,” noted Stoller.
District Financial Officer Cheryl Hoffman spoke about bonds. If a referendum is passed for bond issuance, the district must have reasonable expectations of spending the bond proceeds in three years.
“We do not have to spend it right away,” Hoffman explained.
The board has to do everything they say with the bond proceeds. The district is subject to much more record keeping requirements for anything over $10 million.
During the public comment portion of the meeting Monday night, veteran Prairie Central teacher Kelly Frambes, who formerly taught at Chenoa and currently teaches in Fairbury, said it is all about the kids.
“I think what I’m missing hearing about is the educational part of all of this,” she said.
Frambes has concerns over breaking grade teams up and sending them to separate buildings. She said Prairie Central Elementary lacks the space for indoor recess during the winter months as the gym is used for the cafeteria, leading to kids staying in the classroom and not having room to play.
Lana Brown of Chenoa voiced concern over centralizing schools in Fairbury and Forrest which she said would result in more miles for Chatsworth and Chenoa parents. Brown feels it is not fair if residents of two towns always give and residents of two others always take. She believes a no tax increase option previously presented by McGreal is more practical.
“I pay a lot of property tax but I’m very concerned about where we are going to go as a community, specifically Chatsworth and Chenoa,” stated Brown.
John Rich of Fairbury recalled the original consolidation of the Prairie Central district after he moved to Fairbury in 1984.
“This district has been managed the best of the three we’ve been in.”
Rich told the board he has not heard any discussion about a timeline and that the board needs to know when to get it done so the kids can benefit.
Marion Shier of Chenoa again applauded the school for seeking community input but said the recommendation given by BLDD Architects did not reflect the interests of the PACT Committee. He noted replacing systems in buildings should last for many years and is a way to maintain schools in communities.
“If you decide you must build a new building, I’d encourage a new junior high in close proximity to the high school,” said Shier.
Another special meeting of the Prairie Central Board of Education is scheduled for Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the high school library at Fairbury to hold further discussions. BLDD Architects is expected to bring more information on the facility options covered Monday.
The board’s regular July meeting is set for Thursday evening at 7 p.m.
Opmerkingen