A proposed $140M rebuild of two Sheboygan middle schools is now open for community feedback. Here's what to know.
SHEBOYGAN — Sheboygan Area School District has announced a desire to rebuild Urban and Farnsworth middle schools, both of which are nearing a century old.
While assessments of the schools began in 2019, the public in the coming weeks will have a chance to tour the current spaces and learn more about the potential projects.
The public meetings are the first steps in SASD's plan to determine if the projects will go through, ultimately planned to end in a referendum.
Jake Konrath, assistant superintendent of student and instructional services for SASD, said the district is looking forward to providing information and gaining feedback on a potential referendum.
“Our ultimate goal is that everyone is well-informed as we consider the best options for the future,” Konrath said.
“Schools are the heart of our community," he added, "and we want to ensure we have safe and high-quality facilities to serve students today and for generations to come.”
What are the upcoming meetings?
At 6:30 p.m. Feb. 29 at Urban Middle School, the public can attend a presentation by SASD staff and architects about the completed work, plans and budget impact of the project. After the presentation, attendees can tour the school and ask questions.
At 6:30 p.m. March 4 at Farnsworth Middle School, the public can attend a similar presentation and tour for that project.
Nicole Sondalle, SASD marketing and communication coordinator, said this is the first step of many and there will be plenty of opportunities for the public to learn more about the projects.
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Why is SASD proposing these rebuilds?
Both schools were built in the 1930s, making them just shy of a 100 years old by the estimated completion of their rebuilds.
Because of their age, extensive repairs and upgrades are needed, the district said.
Some of the upgrades could include window replacement, extensive HVAC updates, generator replacements, plumbing system updates and more.
While Konrath said the district is proud of the longevity of those buildings, they need to be rebuilt.
Where would the new buildings be built?
Urban Middle School sits on North Avenue between North 12th and 13th streets. This location is next to North High School, creating congestion issues in the area.
To give the new middle school more space for safety and congestion purposes, the proposed rebuild location is on the corner of Mill and Najacht roads.
Farnsworth Middle School is on a lot between Union and Ashland avenues and South 10th and 11th streets. The current building sits along Union Avenue and the proposed new building would sit along Ashland Avenue. It would use the current gymnasium as a pivot point, as the gymnasium would stay intact because of its more recent construction.
Both original buildings would be torn down.
How much would this cost?
The estimated project budget is about $140 million. Of that, $14 million would be contributed by the district. The remaining $126 million is the potential referendum amount.
The tax impact would be a 30-cent mill rate. This means that for every $1,000 of a resident’s home value, 30 cents would be paid.
For example, if a property is valued at $250,000, the annual impact would be $75.
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How would this affect students?
Urban Middle School serves about 650 students. Farnsworth serves 550.
Because Urban would be built in a new location, the students would be able to move to the new building without much disruption.
According to the district, the number of students and their proximity to the school is nearly identical between both locations.
Although Farnsworth would be rebuilt on the same lot, the old school would continue running as normal while the new building is being built. Safety protocols will be put in place to ensure student safety with construction nearby.
Seth Harvatine, SASD superintendent, said once a construction manager is selected, safety considerations will "be at the forefront."
"It certainly requires thoughtful and proactive safety planning when managing a site where we are building on the same campus where students are attending school," he said. "... We feel confident, based on the numerous jobs these contractors have managed in similar situations, that their experiences and level of expertise will keep students and staff safe."
A preliminary timeline
After preliminary community conversations take place, a survey will go out to every door in the district. That survey will include all available information about the project and is planned to go out sometime in late spring.
Based on the results of that survey, plans will be made by the district for the potential referendum in November.
If the referendum is a success, the design and engineering process would begin immediately.
Construction would be scheduled to begin in early 2026 and completed in 2028.
If this schedule holds, current second through fourth graders will be the first students in the new buildings as sixth, seventh and eighth grade classes.
Have a story tip or public interest concern? Contact Sam Bailey at [email protected] or 573-256-9937. To stay up to date on her stories and other news, follow her on X (Twitter) @SamarahBailey.
This article originally appeared on Sheboygan Press: Sheboygan school district pitches rebuilding Urban, Farnsworth schools
