Teutopolis School Board Looks to the Future

Teutopolis school officials Monday discussed plans for the future.

The school board tasked Superintendent Matt Sturgeon with developing a maintenance schedule for existing facilities, but also a growth analysis regarding enrollment and a schedule regarding finances including when existing bonds will be retired.

Sturgeon said one area discussed was increasing enrollment, especially in the preschool and grade school areas. One way to address that would be to add a grade level at the junior high school building to accommodate preschool instruction at the grade school building.

Another area of emphasis discussed Monday was infrastructure improvements at the grade school building. including water lines, sewer lines and storm sewer lines. Those projects would facilitate restroom improvements at the grade school building.

A third area discussed was the construction of a high school cafetorium. Sturgeon reminded that the current cafeteria was constructed as a temporary facility, and that was 40 years ago. The discussion Monday concerned a facility that could be used as a multi-purpose structure, serving as a cafeteria, but also containing a stage. Such a structure could be used for plays and concerts as well as for meetings. A possible location for the facility could be the area that housed the 1929 portion of the high school. 

Sturgeon said there are many things to be considered before any plans are finalized. He said more Board conversations and community listening sessions will take place.

The Board took a tour of the junior high school building as a part of Monday's meeting. District architect Andrew Ewing from the Upchurch Group was a part of the tour and the facility discussion. Tours of the grade school and high school buildings are to occur during future board meetings.