Teutopolis School Board Still Looking for Input on High School Project

(ONE OF THE MANY AREAS FEATURING THE VARIOUS LEVELS IN THE 1929 PORTION OF TEUTOPOLIS HIGH SCHOOL)

Teutopolis school board members Monday toured their high school building, especially the original portion that could be renovated or replaced under a project being considered by the Board.

During a discussion following the tour, the Board seemed to lean toward adding classrooms and removing the 1929 portion of the building, leaving that area available for future projects. That's not a certainty, though, and they want more input from citizens on the choice of renovation or replacement.

If the original portion is removed, replacement classrooms would be added to the south side of the building, rather than on the end to the west. Adding along the south side would likely be less costly.

If the 1929 section is removed, a connecting hallway would be built to connect the remaining portions of the building. Various options for the original space were discussed, including a combination cafeteria and auditorium.

Looking ahead, the Board broached the subject of relocating the Unit offices to the west end of the high school. That area now housing the Unit offices could be the site of a new gymnasium. Those projects, though, are for the future, and are not part of the project being envisioned right now.

Regarding the 1929 section, considerations are not just the age of the facility; it's the lack of accessibility. The example was shared of a student currently dealing with a broken leg. The student has a class that has been located on the third floor. School officials are having to relocate the class to another room on a lower level so the student can attend.

At the end of the evening, the Board directed Upchurch and Associates Architects to come up with two options...renovate and replace. The goal is to place the question of whether bonds could be issued to pay for whichever project is pursued on the March 2018 election ballot. The project...either way...is forecast to cost around $6 million. The Board informally agreed to allocate $1 million of current reserves, meaning the bond issue will be around $5 million.

In the meantime, there will be further discussions with the Teutopolis Village Board on the potential impact of the new Tax Increment Financing District on the school district and how that could be addressed, and what are the district enrollment projections in the next several years.

Tom Crabtree of Stifel Nicolas, a bonding firm in St. Louis that has worked with the district in the past, to develop information on a campaign to make information available to district residents on the reasons for the project.

As a separate item not involved in the referendum, the Board asked Upchurch to design repairs needed to restrooms and locker rooms with an eye toward using health and life safety funds to make those improvements.