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Bill, Hereis a June 1st 1999 update on the status of the petition drive.
Support for detachment in the Wilton is overwhelming. Using the formula provided by Elections Board it appears that we will need approximately 150 signatures for the the petition drive to be successful. Preliminary indications are that we could get close to double that number. Our volunteers have been working very hard to contact everyone to give them an opportunity to sign. Our percentages remain similar to our last report with between 85-90% of those contacted being in favor of detachment. However we have not contacted everyone yet.
I, and others, have been approached by people wanting to sign and wondering why they have not been contacted. Sometimes it¹s difficult to catch people home and some volunteers have not covered their entire territories yet. We are trying to reach everyone.
For those who wish to sign but have not been contacted by a volunteer there will be petitions available in the Wilton Village hall on Wednesday June 9th from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm or they can call me at 435-6152 and I¹ll arrange for someone to bring them a petition.
As I said, the support in the Wilton area is overwhelming but we are also being contacted by people from Kendall and Elroy who are also expressing their support for detachment. There seems to be a broad recognition across the district that detachment is in the best interests of all of our communities, parents, taxpayers and students.
We urge all of your readers, regardless of where the reside, to contact EKW board members and encourage them to listen to the vast majority of the people of the Wilton area and the entire EKW district and vote yes for detachment when the petitions are presented.
Mike Bauernfeind The Answer is NOW
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Received MAY 10th 1999
UPDATE ON THE DETACHMENT PROGRESS
Bill: Here is a letter that The Answer is NOW Comm. sent to each member of the EKW Board last week.
Detachment will be on the agenda on Thursday, and we are looking forward to another consideration of this solution to the configuration problems.
May 5, 1999
Dear School Board Members:
At your last meeting several of you requested information regarding the financial benefits of allowing the Wilton area to detach from the EKW district. We appreciate your willingness to look at the numbers and consider how this offer of the Wilton area to detach will help the EKW district meet its educational goals in the future.
Attached is the information you requested concerning the detaching area, including a map showing its boundaries. In addition, estimated cost savings and revenue loss figures are also presented.
Our committee is estimating that the number of students in the detaching parcel will be approximately 180. We have submitted a list of the detaching property descriptions to the clerk of the EKW district for certification as to the exact number of students in the detaching parcel.
As you will note the net loss of a mere $60,300 per year is inconsequential when compared to the entire EKW budget. It represents less than than 1% of the entire EKW budget for the 97-98 school year. What¹s more, this amount will be more than made up for in savings on building maintenance, travel, bussing and other expenses associated with the Wilton school.
Finally, by allowing Wilton to detach, the district will be able to off load some $520,000 of its current debt while receiving full compensation for the Wilton school - something it will not receive if the school is closed at a later date.
In short ladies and gentlemen, detachment now offers a one time opportunity for EKW to:
This is a unique opportunity which is here and now but may not be available in the future. It deserves your concerted and in depth analysis.
Sincerely,
The Answer is NOW committee
Michael Bauernfeind
Box 308
Wilton WI 54670
608-435-6152
Savings & Costs to the EKW district if the Wilton area were to detach
The Detaching Parcel
Expenditures vs. Income of the Detaching area (based on 180 students in detachment area)
* Expenditures
* * Revenues
* Source- EKW Superintendent¹s office
** Source - School facts 98 A publication of the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance.
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Hi Bill, Here is a copy of a flyer that is intended as an
informational piece about Detachment.
Thanks for bringing this to your readers.
Mike B., The Answer is N.O.W. committee
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IMPORTANT NOTICE:
By now most people have heard of the movement by EKW residents to detach a portion of the Wilton area from EKW and join it with the Norwalk-Ontario district. This insert is designed to provide information about this effort and answer questions that may be on the minds of citizens of both districts.
Why Detachment
Put simply, rising costs, declining enrollment and School Choice make it virtually inevitable that
the Wilton school will close. This is not something that anyone wants to see happen but EKW
simply does not have the funds to keep 3 schools open for the foreseeable future. Sooner or
later, the Wilton school will close. Especially if a new school is built in Wilton, EKW will not have
the funds to operate and maintain it.
Once EKW decides to close the Wilton school it will be too late. Parents, kids and all of our tax dollars will be stuck traveling to the other side of the district. And if this plan to build unneeded new buildings and close structurally sound schools succeeds, we will be stuck with an enormous debt and no money left to operate these schools or maintain existing programs.
Right Now, We Still Have a Choice.
DETACHMENT CAN BENEFIT US ALL
By detaching from EKW and joining N-O we can take a positive step in realigning the districts to benefit both the school districts, as well as the students, parents and tax payers of all the villages and townships involved. Below are just a few of the ways each community could benefit from detachment.
Benefits for the Wilton Area Detaching Parcel
Benefits for Elroy and Kendall
Benefits for Norwalk and Ontario
Like so many school districts around the state and nation, EKW is working to provide a quality education in the face of declining enrollment and increasing expenses (a circumstance N-O might someday face). The situation in EKW is further compounded by the geographical component and the natural desire of each community to keep a school in its village. This has led to years of disagreement and distraction.
Isn¹t it time to put an end to the conflict and strife? Isn¹t it time we started working together and setting a cooperative example for the children whose education and development are at the heart of this debate? We can work together to build stronger school districts through detachment.
You Can Help
If you want make a positive difference for yourself, your family, your community and your future, here¹s what you can do:
Thank You for Your Interest in this Very Important Matter
The Answer is NOW Committee
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Nearly a month ago, Annette Bender sent an e-mail in which she mentioned that prior to the referendum last spring there had also been a 2 site configuration proposal which had been discussed. So after a diligent search, the EKW District office finally came up with not only one but two proposals which TCI had outlined. One was dated July 31st 1997 and the other was dated September 17th 1997. The July one had a total cost of $9,500,000.00. Whereas the September one came in with a figure $8,763,000.00. Since there was no breakdown on the first proposal I do not know where the savings came in.
Here is the breakdown on the September 17th 1997 proposal:
Elementary School at Kendall------------------------- $4,583,000
Primary School in Elroy ----------------------------------- 238,000
Middle School/Combined with Highschool in Elroy-- 1,398,000
Revovation on High School - Elroy -------------------- 1,435,000
Wilton Elementary School - Sale or tore down --------- 110,000
Contingency ------------------------------------------------- 388,000
Permits and Fees ------------------------------------------- 611,000
Total------------------------------------------------------- $8,763,000
P.S. For the record I would like to have all the TCI proposals listed
on this WEB site so if there is anyone that has or knows where I can
get a hold of the TCI proposal that was defeated in
last springs referendum I would appreciate having a copy.
Bill Weber - Reporter
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TCI's FEB.11th CONFIGURATION REPORT to EKW BOARD
The following information is taken from the latest report presented by TCI upon the request from the EKW school board. After many years, many board meeting and many visits to other school districts and an 3-1 defeat on last years one campus referendum the EKW school board, at is meeting on March 11th, approved the Doug McCracken motion to put up to the voters in referendum this three site configuration plan with the hope that this might be the answer to the districts configuration dilemma.
PLEASE NOT THAT THE MCCRACKEN PROPOSAL WAS ONLY FOR THE EXPENDITURE OF TEN AND HALF MILLION OR ABOUT ONE MILLION LESS THAN TCI'S ESTIMATE. SOME ADJUSTMENTS WILL HAVE TO WORKED OUT.
This is a fairly long and detailed report and I will try my best to give you the main features. If after reading it you have questions you can attend any of the meeting coming up this next week or contact your school board member for more details. Or send your questions here to us and we will try and get the answers for you.
The Report is Broken Down into Three Parts:
1. Elroy Elementary, Middle School and Royall High School.
2. Kendall Middle School and High School
3. Wilton Elementary School.
ELROY ELEMENTARY -(preK-5)
No work is planned for this facility. However, if there is a change to
(preK-6) there will probably have to be one more classroom added.
ELROY MIDDLE SCHOOL
No work is planned for this facility. The building will not be utilized by
the school district for student classes.
ROYALL HIGH SCHOOL
No work is planned for this facility. The building will not be utilized by
the school district for student classes.
KENDALL MIDDLE SCHOOL/HIGH SCHOOL FACILITIES.(6-12)
A two story addition will be constructed adjacent to the existing building
The new plan would configure a portion as a new Middle School (6-8) with
the remainder being utilized for grades (9-12).
Approximately 10 acres of
additional land will be purchased for construction of new athletic facilities.
Description of Spaces.
(Full details of sq feet available at district office.)
New Classrooms/Science Lab/Art Room/FACE Lab
New Computer Labs
New Gymnasium
New Locker Rooms
New Library/Media Center
New Music Spaces
New Shop Spaces
New Office Spaces
New Central Food Preparation Kitchen
New Toilet Rooms
New Corridors
New General School - Interior
New General School - Exterior
Typical Interior Remodel Work
Athletic Facilities
Football, baseball & softball fields and bleachers.
PRELIMINARY COST ESTIMATE FOR KENDALL SCHOOLS. $8,940,000
WILTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FACILITIES (PreK-5)
A single story building addition will be constructed adjacent to the existing three story building. Following completion of the new addition the existing three story portion of the elementary school building will be demolished. The new addition will then be connected with the existing single story gymnasium portion of the current facility. The new school will house Pre-Kindergarten through Fifth grades.
DESCRIPTION OF SPACES:
(Full details of sq feet available at district office.)
New Classrooms
New Computer Labs
New Library/ Media Center
New Office Spaces
New Warming Kitchen
New Toilet Rooms
New Corridors
New General School Interior
New General School Exterior
Typical Interior Remodel Work
PRELIMINARY COST ESTIMATE FOR WILTON SCHOOL. $2,310,000
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Since the recent decision of the EKW school board to ask for 10.5 million dollars for school additions and remodeling we have been asked “Are you still going ahead with detachment?” The answer is yes, absolutely!
Some of us that support detaching and joining the N.O. district find ourselves in a peculiar situation. Many people now interested in detachment were once strong supporters of keeping a school in Wilton at all costs. We worked to defeat last year’s referendum because it would have meant the end of our school. Having a school in our own community is important to us, just as it is to so many others.
However, what has led us toward detachment is our realization and now firm belief that one way or another (perhaps for very sound financial reasons) EKW will have to eventually close the Wilton school. It is our further belief that when that happens Wilton citizens and students will be much better off being part of the N.O. district.
The people need to be given a chance to vote their preferences on this bonding referendum. But before they do, they need to have specific answers about how their money will be spent and what this huge indebtedness will buy. Many are concerned because they feel it is too expensive, or there are too many unknowns. Some feel uncomfortable committing to such a large debt without knowing what they are getting for their money. Still others feel that new buildings or not, eventually there will not be enough money to operate all three schools. There are lots of questions about the effects of this referendum. We need honest and accurate answers. Hopefully they will be forthcoming and an informed decision can be made.
Since we have initiated the detachment movement, we feel it is our
responsibility to continue to ready the process. We will do that and
will continue to provide additional information on detachment as it
becomes available. Thus we urge you become informed about the issues
in the referendum, detachment and the N.O. district. An informed choice
is the best choice. Ask questions, get answers, make informed
decisions.
Mike Bauernfeind
The Answer is N.O.W. Committee
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One thing about having a space for expression, like this
WEB site, is that there are all kinds of responses such as:
Terrific, Bill - Thanks for taking the initiative on
another method of communication.
Or the one which asked, "Who's side are you promoting?"
So then yesterday I get these questions via e-mail:
1. Will 10 million GUARANTEE a Wilton school? For how long?
2. After land purchase how much of the 10 million will be left for
construction?
3. How can we maintain new buildings if we don't have money to
keep up the present schools?
AND THEN THERE IS THIS TONGUE IN CHEEK ONE
4. Where are the students coming from to fill 3 schools? Are there
fertile eggs in these new foundations, or are they basing this on the
new tests for promotion and graduation and figuring that some of these
students will still be in fourth grade when they are 18?
There was also a question of whether it was necessary for the
referendum proposal to have three separate readings before final adoption
and President of the Board, Don Yahnke said that is was not necessary.
Should School Board Ban Audience Participation?
See editorial comment on Page 7
Click here to go to page 7
Variety is the spice of life. If any of you have answers or
opinions on the above questions or have questions of your own let us know
via e-mail to: solar10a@centuryinter.net
************************************************* MSNBC NEWS PAGE
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When I put up this WEB page March 3rd my intention was
to open a dialogue in an effort to help find some solution
to the present EKW School District dilemma.
Your response continues to be great. Thanks. Bill Weber
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If you wish to bookmark or pass on to friends here is
the URL for this WEB site:
>https://www.angelfire.com/mi/cybereport/<
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