In a letter to district families, Superintendent Paul Otten said the updated plan represents about a year's worth of research by the 60-member team on the district's current facilities and enrollment trends.
>>> One school district begins random drug tests, another considers issue
“The option with the best return on investment for our community and our students involves the construction of a new high school,’ Otten’s letter reads. “This option would address our increasing enrollment and gives all of our students a high school that is suitable to offer modern learning experiences and a technology infrastructure to ensure they are getting the kind of education needed to prepare them for college or the workforce.”
The high school, built in 1954, has a capacity to accommodate 1,813 students, but enrollment as of this month is 1,949, which is 71 more than what was projected, according to district records.
High school enrollment is projected to increase to 2,153 by the 2027-28 school year, according to the records.
Otten said in the letter to families that there is a cost of “doing nothing,” which would force the district “to continue diverting funds from our daily operating budget on less-than-ideal, temporary fixes, such as trailers.”
STAY CONNECTED: Greene County News on Facebook
“We have stretched our budget as far as possible and significant student enrollment growth is affecting our facilities, far exceeding the district’s ability to just make do without implementing major improvements and additions to the learning spaces to increase capacity,” Otten’s letter reads.
The school board is expected to formally consider adopting the updated master facilities plan at its next meeting Sept. 12.
About the Author