Pierz Facilities Committee Planning for the Future
First Meeting to Discuss April Bond Referendum Options
More than two dozen community members, staff, and school board members met Dec. 5 to discuss Pierz Public Schools facility needs. As members of the district’s Facilities Committee, they are tasked with defining facility needs, reviewing options to solve the needs, and making a recommendation to the school board to consider for a possible April bond referendum.
“The participation was excellent,” said Patty Stangl, Pierz School Board Chair. “Community members asked great questions and helped us concentrate on our highest priority needs.”
During the meeting, Superintendent George Weber reviewed key survey results, the school principals reviewed major facility challenges, the district’s architect and general contractor presented facility solution options, and community members asked questions and discussed issues in the community.
Survey Recap
Superintendent George Weber opened with a quick review of the survey results.
Highlights from the survey are:
Facility Issues
To frame the Facilities Committee’s task, Pioneer Elementary Principal Tom Otte and Assistant Principal Dan Stifter presented information regarding the district’s most urgent facilities needs including the Band Room, Elementary Classrooms, Kitchen, Cafeteria, Parking Lot, and Gym. They highlighted the shortage of classrooms (including gym space) at the elementary school, and lost instruction time and safety issues due to elementary students putting on and taking off winter weather clothing to use portable classrooms or access resources at the high school.
Facility Solution Options
Architect Mark Lenz along with Preston Euerle, RAMorton, the district’s construction management consultant, presented a review of current options under consideration. They presented changes from last referendum – outlining what is different and why?
The committee recognized that they will evaluate all of these needs in the context of what respondents said in the survey. Options for connecting both schools, including safety concerns regarding kids walking between the two buildings, an area to connect to sports fields behind the elementary schools with available bathrooms, and custodians’ efficiency if buildings are connected were all considerations discussed. Pioneer Principal Tom Otte mentioned, “We have tried to walk students over to the high school for gym classes, but the time it took for students to put on their coats, hats, etc. meant we were losing too much valuable learning time.”
It was noted that the cost of renting the two classroom modules at $14,000/year would go away with a new plan.
Issues in the Community
Community members also asked the school board to do a better job of telling its story by sharing academic success stories, and addressing issues such as open enrollment, the Ag2Schools farm tax credit, and increasing construction costs.
Superintendent Weber said the board will consider a cap on open enrollment. “Our district growth is directly related to the quality of our schools,” Weber said. “Open enrollment served us well, stabilizing our revenue and allowing us to maintain a full range of academic programming, but now is the time to put a limit on it.” State law says open enrollment cannot be completely eliminated; any district in Minnesota must still accept open enrolled students up to 1% of any given grade’s enrollment. The board will need to write policies and procedures to cap enrollment including creating an application process and a limit to the number of students in each grade.
The referendum plan is to build space for the children currently enrolled. Superintendent Weber said, “It is important to note that all existing open enrolled students are required by law to be able to stay.”
The benefits to farmers with the AG2School tax credit was discussed. The Ag2School Tax Credit is one of the more notable outcomes of the recently completed 2017 special legislative session and creates a fairer state share of school facility costs by targeting property tax relief to farm property for taxes paid on school bonds. The 40 percent bond credit, known as Ag2School will take effect with property taxes certified in December of 2017 and payable in calendar year 2018. Impacted property includes all class 2a (homestead and non-homestead ag land), 2b (rural vacant land) and 2c (managed forest land) property except the dwelling value (house, garage and one acre) of the property. Impacted property owners will see the reduction in the upper right-hand corner of their Truth-in-Taxation notices. The Ag2School credit applies to all current and future school facility bond debt payments.
Board member, Joanne Broschofsky reminded the committee that the construction costs keep increasing. Preston Euerle from RAMorton, stated that, “This year the costs are 3% higher than they were with the last referendum.” According to Preston, “You add 4-5% to the total cost every year you wait.”
- Additional Information -
The meeting adjourned at 8:00 PM with plans to meet again on Wednesday, Jan 3, 2018 at 6:00 PM in the Healy High School Media Center. Topics to be reviewed are:
The Facilities Committee is comprised of school board members, community members, school staff, and the construction consultants. School board members Steve Boser, Joanne Broschofsky, Rick Sczublewski, and Patty Stangl were in attendance. Colleen Seelen and Dean Virnig were unable to attend.
School staff participating included: Tracey Artner, Business Manager, Terri Krych, Admin. Assistant, Tom Otte, Pioneer Elementary Principal, Dan Stifter, Healy High School Assistant Principal, Mark Gruber, Head Custodian, and George Weber, Superintendent.
Community members on the committee are: Jim Andres, Kyle Bednar, Sharon Bell, Janel Betsinger, Bridget Britz, Herb Broschofsky, Toby Egan, Christen Funk, Gordy Gall, Tom Girtz, Eric Hanneken, Horst Hanneken, Tom Leidenfrost, Jennie Loidolt, Keith Marshik, Kim Rocheleau, Denny Rothstein, Howie Schomer, Neal Seppelt, Ashley Toops, Jeanette Watland, and Wes Young.
More than two dozen community members, staff, and school board members met Dec. 5 to discuss Pierz Public Schools facility needs. As members of the district’s Facilities Committee, they are tasked with defining facility needs, reviewing options to solve the needs, and making a recommendation to the school board to consider for a possible April bond referendum.
“The participation was excellent,” said Patty Stangl, Pierz School Board Chair. “Community members asked great questions and helped us concentrate on our highest priority needs.”
During the meeting, Superintendent George Weber reviewed key survey results, the school principals reviewed major facility challenges, the district’s architect and general contractor presented facility solution options, and community members asked questions and discussed issues in the community.
Survey Recap
Superintendent George Weber opened with a quick review of the survey results.
Highlights from the survey are:
- Strong support for Elementary Classrooms
- Medium Support for Band Room, Kitchen, Parking Lot, Elementary Gym
- Not enough support for Auditorium at this time
Facility Issues
To frame the Facilities Committee’s task, Pioneer Elementary Principal Tom Otte and Assistant Principal Dan Stifter presented information regarding the district’s most urgent facilities needs including the Band Room, Elementary Classrooms, Kitchen, Cafeteria, Parking Lot, and Gym. They highlighted the shortage of classrooms (including gym space) at the elementary school, and lost instruction time and safety issues due to elementary students putting on and taking off winter weather clothing to use portable classrooms or access resources at the high school.
Facility Solution Options
Architect Mark Lenz along with Preston Euerle, RAMorton, the district’s construction management consultant, presented a review of current options under consideration. They presented changes from last referendum – outlining what is different and why?
- Smaller plan around $10 million vs. $18 million
- No auditorium
- Smaller elementary gym
- Focus on academics/classrooms
- Connecting the schools
The committee recognized that they will evaluate all of these needs in the context of what respondents said in the survey. Options for connecting both schools, including safety concerns regarding kids walking between the two buildings, an area to connect to sports fields behind the elementary schools with available bathrooms, and custodians’ efficiency if buildings are connected were all considerations discussed. Pioneer Principal Tom Otte mentioned, “We have tried to walk students over to the high school for gym classes, but the time it took for students to put on their coats, hats, etc. meant we were losing too much valuable learning time.”
It was noted that the cost of renting the two classroom modules at $14,000/year would go away with a new plan.
Issues in the Community
Community members also asked the school board to do a better job of telling its story by sharing academic success stories, and addressing issues such as open enrollment, the Ag2Schools farm tax credit, and increasing construction costs.
Superintendent Weber said the board will consider a cap on open enrollment. “Our district growth is directly related to the quality of our schools,” Weber said. “Open enrollment served us well, stabilizing our revenue and allowing us to maintain a full range of academic programming, but now is the time to put a limit on it.” State law says open enrollment cannot be completely eliminated; any district in Minnesota must still accept open enrolled students up to 1% of any given grade’s enrollment. The board will need to write policies and procedures to cap enrollment including creating an application process and a limit to the number of students in each grade.
The referendum plan is to build space for the children currently enrolled. Superintendent Weber said, “It is important to note that all existing open enrolled students are required by law to be able to stay.”
The benefits to farmers with the AG2School tax credit was discussed. The Ag2School Tax Credit is one of the more notable outcomes of the recently completed 2017 special legislative session and creates a fairer state share of school facility costs by targeting property tax relief to farm property for taxes paid on school bonds. The 40 percent bond credit, known as Ag2School will take effect with property taxes certified in December of 2017 and payable in calendar year 2018. Impacted property includes all class 2a (homestead and non-homestead ag land), 2b (rural vacant land) and 2c (managed forest land) property except the dwelling value (house, garage and one acre) of the property. Impacted property owners will see the reduction in the upper right-hand corner of their Truth-in-Taxation notices. The Ag2School credit applies to all current and future school facility bond debt payments.
Board member, Joanne Broschofsky reminded the committee that the construction costs keep increasing. Preston Euerle from RAMorton, stated that, “This year the costs are 3% higher than they were with the last referendum.” According to Preston, “You add 4-5% to the total cost every year you wait.”
- Additional Information -
The meeting adjourned at 8:00 PM with plans to meet again on Wednesday, Jan 3, 2018 at 6:00 PM in the Healy High School Media Center. Topics to be reviewed are:
- Tax impact data for potential bond scenarios
- Other potential sources to support part of cost
- Finalizing referendum proposal
- Dollar amount
- One question or two questions, etc.
The Facilities Committee is comprised of school board members, community members, school staff, and the construction consultants. School board members Steve Boser, Joanne Broschofsky, Rick Sczublewski, and Patty Stangl were in attendance. Colleen Seelen and Dean Virnig were unable to attend.
School staff participating included: Tracey Artner, Business Manager, Terri Krych, Admin. Assistant, Tom Otte, Pioneer Elementary Principal, Dan Stifter, Healy High School Assistant Principal, Mark Gruber, Head Custodian, and George Weber, Superintendent.
Community members on the committee are: Jim Andres, Kyle Bednar, Sharon Bell, Janel Betsinger, Bridget Britz, Herb Broschofsky, Toby Egan, Christen Funk, Gordy Gall, Tom Girtz, Eric Hanneken, Horst Hanneken, Tom Leidenfrost, Jennie Loidolt, Keith Marshik, Kim Rocheleau, Denny Rothstein, Howie Schomer, Neal Seppelt, Ashley Toops, Jeanette Watland, and Wes Young.
