WESTON, WI (WSAU-WAOW) The D.C. Everest School District is considering closing its junior high school due to aging infrastructure and declining enrollment.
The junior high school has served students since 1951, but school leaders say the building’s infrastructure is failing.
Plumbing issues discovered a couple of years ago revealed that clay pipes installed in the 1950s are starting to fail. “A couple of years ago we noticed that we were having plumbing issues in the building. We were having backing on some water in some different areas. Under some more analysis of what those problems could be, we found that a lot of the clay pipings that were installed back in the 50s so, 80 years ago, were starting to fail,” Jason Jablonski, Director of Buildings & ground, D.C. Everest said.
Under the proposal, eighth graders would move to D.C. Everest Middle School, while ninth graders would attend the senior high.
School leaders say the move would give students access to more opportunities. “We want kids to go anywhere. So, really trying to protect a diverse set of opportunities for them. We do believe on the long run that is the saving on the experience and think it’s the best physical choice for protecting the investment the community makes,” Jason McFarlane, Principal, D.C. Everest Junior High said.
To make the transition work, the district is proposing remodeling and additions at the middle school and senior high, along with improvements to parking and drop-off areas. School leaders see this as a four-year process and are currently gathering feedback from the community.
Community members can learn more and give feedback at two information sessions held at the junior high school. The first session will be held September 4 from 5:30 to 7pm. The second session will be held October 6 from 6 to 7:30pm.
If the proposal passes, the junior high wouldn’t entirely go away. Its total space would be cut by more than half, with the remaining space being used mostly for sports.
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