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Fort Atkinson presents facilities study results; district explores consolidating middle and high schools
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Summary
District administrators shared facility reviews showing stabilized elementary enrollment, projected high-school declines, a nearly $40 million price tag to make the middle school safe and dry, and announced a scientifically designed community survey to guide possible consolidation options.
District officials presented preliminary facility-study findings to the Fort Atkinson School Board, including enrollment projections, estimates for required repairs and early ideas for school reconfiguration, and announced a districtwide survey to gather community input.
A staff member reported that elementary and middle enrollments have largely stabilized while high-school enrollment is projected to decline over the next three years. The presenter said recent facility reviews and engineering work showed that bringing the middle school to basic standards of being "warm, safe and dry" would cost nearly $40,000,000 and stressed that figure is an estimate pending complete reports.
The presentation noted the district has engaged PRA and JP Cullen for detailed facility reviews and a civil engineering study of the high-school site; those reports are expected in June. Administrators also discussed early concepts for relocating middle-school students to the high-school site to achieve operational efficiencies and to improve programming and modern learning configurations, but they repeatedly emphasized that no plan has been decided.
To inform next steps, the district will work with a survey firm, School Perceptions, on a scientifically weighted household survey that will be mailed in the second week of May (online and paper options available). Staff said survey results should be available for the June board meeting and will be used to guide community engagement and any referendum planning.
Board members asked about comparative repair costs for older buildings, safety concerns at the middle school (windows, ADA compliance) and how prior capital referendums have been used; staff replied that prior capital funds were used to address elementary maintenance and that they are preparing a comprehensive, transparent packet of data for the public in June.
The district framed these activities as exploratory and data-driven: the administration repeatedly said there is no detailed consolidation plan at this time and that community input will shape any potential proposals.
