Changes Ahead?
The Ellsworth-Kanopolis-Geneseo USD 327 school district is in the preliminary stages of looking at possible options to create more space at Ellsworth Elementary School.
Superintendent Dale Brungardt said the district is looking a several options for building a multi-purpose building on the EES campus.
“We are simply running out of space and are left with the issue of what do we do,” said Brungardt.
Several options include additional classrooms and renovation of existing space. None have been agreed upon, as staff and the district work to find the best solution for both students and the district budget.
Brungardt said an engineering company, HTK Architects, drafted preliminary plans and cost estimates. Updated plans and cost estimates will come as the district narrows the list of options.
Enrollment records from EES show that over the last five years the number of students leaving or who have transitioned to a different building are lower than incoming kindergarten classes from those same years.
During the 2010-11 school year, there were 227 students at Ellsworth Elementary. For 2017-18, there are 266, which created the need for the change.
EES principal Patrick Schroeder, said the increased number of students within the last few years has forced the addition of two more teachers to fill all available rooms in the building.
"We do not want everyone to think we are just trying to push this through. We want to do it right and in the process possibly building something that can be used for many generations to come"
Patrick Schroeder
Ellsworth Elementary principal
“With adding the two teachers we have had to close off the stage in the gym to double as the physical education teacher’s office and Mrs. Tully’s title one reading and math classroom,” said Schroeder.
The main issue is not just classroom space but also the “cafagymatorium” as Schroeder calls it. He calls the gym space that because it is used for physical education class, breakfast, lunch, practice space for school sports, recreational sports practice and as the school auditorium.
From 10:45 a.m. to about 12:25 p.m. the gym is off limits to all educational purposes so the staff can set up for lunch. This limits what the space can be used for.
Schroeder said the ideas are in the earliest stages and he really wants to hear from stakeholders — including community members, staff, and school board members.
“We do not want everyone to think we are just trying to push this through,” Schroeder said. “We want to do it right and in the process possibly build something that can be used for many generations to come.”
Brungardt said he agrees with Schroeder, adding he would like to see the building serve its purpose for an additional 30-50 years.
Brungardt hopes to use a capital outlay plan and lease-to-purchase agreement in order to fund the project, alleviating the need to issue bonds.
The district and school staff are working closely together to determine options and should be able to share more information with the public in the coming months.
Both Schroeder and Brungardt said this is not something that is going to happen overnight.
“We should always be looking forward,” Schroeder said. “With the growing student numbers the issue needs to be looked at. If we don’t address it now it will have to be addressed soon.”
"We are simply running out of space and are left with the issue of what do we do."
Dale Brungardt
USD 327 Superintendent