School options discussed (11/29/06)

BERNE - There's a consensus that both South Adams Middle School in Geneva and South Adams Elementary School in Geneva need to be replaced.

But there are hundreds of questions about what a new school might look like.

South Adams School Board members and administrators continued to seek public input Tuesday with a forum in the high school auditorium.

Board members are looking at the possibility of a kindergarten through eighth grade facility to be constructed east of South Adams High School. It's possible such a structure might contain food service facilities which would serve all students through two cafeterias.

But that's only one possibility.

A community survey distributed Tuesday, which will be published later in area newspapers, asks what configuration of grades might work best. It also poses questions on optimum class size at various grade levels and maximum school sizes.

"Should we connect these buildings?" superintendent Cathy Egolf asked Tuesday night. "Do we look at renovating the high school academic wing (at the same time)?"

Egolf noted the high school is 34 years old and is showing its age. The swimming pool needs either major renovation or replacement, and the open concept design so popular when the building was constructed has outlived its usefulness.

"Apparently none of the architects had what is called today 'attention deficit,'" said Egolf. "It just doesn't work."

The high school was designed for grades nine through 12, but it now serves grades seven through 12. It has essentially reached full capacity. The building's heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system also shows its age. "A lot of our general fund money goes into utilities not academics," said Egolf of the inefficiencies.

Egolf envisioned a kindergarten through eighth grade facility that would have different grade levels clustered together based upon pupils' ages. But it could also be a kindergarten through sixth facility with a junior high wing.

"We have to know what the community wants," she added.

Whatever it wants, it's likely to be an expensive proposition.

Egolf estimated that a new kindergarten through eighth grade school could cost $20 to $30 million.

"A K-8 (building) will probably be somewhere close to 170,000 square feet," she said. "You can do the math."

School construction costs can range from about $95 to $145 per square foot, depending upon the grade levels involved.

"It's going to cost us money," said Egolf, adding that the investment could have impact in terms of economic development for the community. "If we're going to bring in business, you have to have an excellent school system. ... If you're going to have high-end industry, they want their kids to go to high-end schools."

Egolf and board members said that in discussions with members of the Geneva and Berne communities they had heard a consensus that the old school buildings should be razed and the bare ground turned over to the towns for use.

Even that will be expensive, with demolition of the middle school and elementary estimated at roughly $1 million because of the asbestos involved.

Though in the past there has been sentiment to save the old schools at any cost, board members said the public mood is different today.

"Times have changed," said board member John Minch. "We just can't continue pouring money down the hole. ... The majority of the people say, 'Go ahead. Let's do it for the kids.'"

Egolf said a survey will be circulated among high school students as well. "They've been in these buildings," she said. "They know what we need."

The public can also complete a survey by logging onto the school system's Internet site at www.southadams.k12.in.us.

In response to a question from a member of the audience, Egolf said none of the talk over the future of buildings has involved consolidation of the South Adams School Corporation with other school districts in Adams County. "We really aren't looking at one consolidated district," she said.[[In-content Ad]]