A plan needs to be made now for future of high school

Using a computer designing program, administration in the Cornell School District can show renderings of what a demolition of the high school would look like, with the red portions taken out. In the early stages of planning, community input is needed, to make a decision to either remodel the high school, tear down the old part of the building or close the high school altogether. Submitted Photo

By Ginna Young

The administration of the Cornell School District is taking a serious look at what the future of the high school will look like. There are three options that will be left up to the community, to decide what’s best for the district – a new building, remodeling the existing building or closing down the building.

Closing is an option,” said superintendent Paul Schley at a meeting Feb. 26. “I want people to know, though, it’s not one we support.”

If the community went with a new build, the administration would keep the commons, but take out the old concessions area. The old wood shop would also be taken out, but the metal shop would remain the same.

In doing so, the main entrance would be where the side windows are, with a “safety trap,” so visitors can be funneled from there to the gym.

“The majority of our big groups come in for sporting events,” said middle/high school principal Craig Braaten.

Currently, the gym faces east and west, but there’s more distance if faced north and south, so the district would turn the gym and replace the bleachers, because parts are hard to find for them already.

After demolishing the wood frame old building, which is technically the middle of the school, the new building would be three stories high, with short hallways.

“It’s the most economical way we could do things, if we get to this point,” said Schley, adding that there are concerns over aging issues. “Let’s get something functional, that’s going to last a long time, be energy efficient and low maintenance.”

There wouldn’t be much for classes on the ground level, while handicapped and angled parking would remain the same. On the other side of the building, once the old section is down, there would be two rows of parking, without removing green space that’s already there. Staff parking would be there during the daytime, with handicapped parking there for games and events, such as the holiday programs.

Although the concepts are easy to change, after going over every aspect, the administration likes the floor plan.

“This is what we feel would be best for the needs of our students in our district,” said Braaten.

Since Cornell doesn’t have enough debt limit authority to construct a whole new building, which would be about $40 million, they can only borrow $28 million at the most. Even at $28 million, taxes would be significantly higher for the community.

“We really want to keep it under $20 (million), if we can,” said Schley.

School board treasurer/district parent Stephanie Seidlitz asked what people in the community are feeling, if there’s any feedback.

Eileen Sikora, school board clerk, said she has been asked why the district is looking at changing or redoing the high school, when they are shipping a lot of students to CVTC for classes. It’s also a feeling that the kids don’t have adequate classes.

“It seems like we’re cutting, cutting, cutting,” she said.

Schley disagrees and thinks Cornell has more offerings than most schools, but admits scheduling is sometimes a problem, with lower class sizes. That doesn’t mean he isn’t willing to see if offerings can be improved, and invites anyone to contact him with suggestions or questions.

“I want to know where they’re coming from,” said Schley. “I want specifics, so we know what to work on.”

Senior student Karl Wescott says he believes Cornell has good offerings and tries to get kids in where they want to be, even though that’s not always possible.

“You can’t please everybody,” said Wescott. Sikora suggested looking at changing to trimesters, instead of semesters, to give a greater opportunity for classes, but Schley said a trimester effects how math and English are run, as well as not allowing for dual credit classes through CVTC. It’s less homework, but harder on teachers.

School board president Lyle Briggs asked what a classshare would look like. It’s not set in stone, but Schley is certain the district would pick up kids like normal, then bus them to the other school.

“Then, what would we do with the buildings we have?” asked Briggs.

The district would then sell or demolish them, possibly turning the gym and concessions into a community center. Even if the students are sent to another district, Cornell could still have sports teams, if they can be fielded, and the co-ops in place would remain.

The next step, before anything is decided, is to have a study done of the current facility, looking at the feasibility of remodeling vs. new build, to determine what the community wants. The district will bring in a company that takes care of surveying and leading community discussion forums, to take the administration and school board out of the picture, so, it’s truly community-driven.

Sikora says she just wants the district kids to have a safe place to go, with a good education and to have the community happy about the choices made. Schley agreed and pointed out that this is a long-term process.

“We don’t have to do this now…we’re baby stepping this thing,” said Schley. “But, we got to have a plan.”