New Berlin considers savings, costs of closing elementary school

New Berlin - About the only way to catch up on $25 million in deferred maintenance in New Berlin schools without raising taxes is to close an elementary school.

That was the message the New Berlin School Board heard from administrators Monday night. The district has five elementary schools, and a consultant study said it could get by with four, even if all the now-vacant land in the city of New Berlin is developed.

So, the board is eyeing the closing of one of the two smallest and highest performing schools: Glen Park Elementary School, 3500 S. Glen Park Road. That would save an estimated $300,000 per year, facilities consultant IFF estimated. If the building were sold, annual savings could jump to $500,000.

More study time needed

But before making such a decision, the board called for information about potential costs - which could offset some of the savings - at schools that could receive the nearly 300 Glen Park students.

The board also wanted to get a better idea of how much extra capacity each elementary school has to get a better feel for where Glen Park students might end up.

The board could decide on the issue as early as its Jan. 9 meeting. If that decision is for closing, at least two, if not three, other elementary schools would be in line to receive many more students.

Glen Park has two classes per grade from kindergarten through sixth grade. And three elementary schools have room for one more section from kindergarten through sixth grade. So, if Glen Park were closed, two of those three - Ronald Reagan, Elmwood and Orchard Lane - might get 150 Glen Park students. If the 300 Glen Park students were distributed to all three, each could get 100 Glen Park students.

There also is room in some grades at Poplar Creek Elementary School, Superintendent Joe Garza said. If the excess space is at the upper grades, older Glen Park students could transfer there and stay until going on to middle school.

It would seem that the administration will need to know where Glen Park students could end up to predict what improvements each school would need to accommodate the influx of students.

Other impacts of decision

But board member Keith Hastings wanted to know more than where the Glen Park students would go and the resulting costs. Hastings said he is worried about how student achievement might be disrupted.

He called for information about how student achievement was affected after Prospect Hill and New Berlin Center elementary schools were consolidated into Ronald Reagan Elementary School.

Hastings also wanted to know how much could be realized from the sale of Glen Park and how much could be saved in construction and interest costs if the board acted now rather than taking more time.

Roger Dickson, director of financial services, said a decision in January could result in an actual school closing next fall, though that would be a tight time line.

Saying that he didn't want to delay things, Hastings said the other information could come later.

Glen Park's protectors

Once again, Glen Park parents mounted a spirited defense Monday.

Bill Adams said it is unfair to target Glen Park because it needs a lot of catchup maintenance. For years, Glen Park maintenance was left undone, while the district built Ronald Reagan and Elmwood elementary and refurbished Orchard Lane Elementary, he noted.

And parent Rich Tadych said after the meeting that if the schools have so much room, why not close a bigger school that costs more to maintain?

NEXT STEP

WHAT: potential decision on closing Glen Park Elementary School by the New Berlin School Board

WHEN: 7 p.m. Jan. 9

WHERE: New Berlin West idea center, 18695 W. Cleveland Ave.