Closed campus contentious for Wauzeka-Steuben board, community

By Steve Van Kooten

Even though Wauzeka-Steuben’s Board of Education had a packed agenda for their August 19 meeting, the on-going discussion about the school’s open campus policy continues to be the primary focus of the board’s attention.

In attendance were board members Nikki Asleson, Thomas Martin, Ken Buck, Jessica Bird and Brandon Millin. Also present were interim district administrator Dr. Gary Albrecht, principal Tiffany Dums, director of special education Kevin Kilburg, athletics director Austin Bunders and business official Jeff Mara.

The board heard from two community members who opposed a closed campus. Jessie Udelhoven claimed that the district has not provided adequate communication about the issue to the community. She also questioned the availability of a survey Dums said had generated positive feedback for a closed campus.

“I’ve spoken to students and other parents, and nobody I have spoken to has seen a survey,” she said.

During the meeting, Dums submitted a record of CSIC meetings and board meetings in which the closed campus topic was on the agenda. She also included the survey that was purportedly available to the public at school functions, including registration and Back to School Day.

Udelhoven claimed that Fennimore and Boscobel high schools maintained open campuses despite the administration’s assertion at the July board meeting that Wauzeka-Steuben was one of the only remaining in the southwestern portion of Wisconsin.

More than ten students appeared at the meeting to oppose a closed campus. The lack of a break from the school day, the ability to go to the gas station across the street from the school grounds and the availability of food were cited as issues for the students.

The students also suggested that the school’s crosswalk project would create a safer environment for people to leave campus during their open period.

Udelhoven said that the district may have underestimated how many students leave the school grounds during the day.

“I think more kids are going to the gas station or going home to eat or going to a grandparent’s house,” she said.“Our main concern is safety and keeping the building secure,” said Asleson, “but it’s not going to be a lockdown situation.”

Asleson said that the plan was to allocate outside space for the students during the day, such as the courtyard or other areas on the school grounds.

The board did not take action during the meeting, and Asleson said discussions would continue in the upcoming months.

On the topic of facility access and security, the school is still waiting to hear from their insurance company to determine the district’s liability when people access the school’s facilities after normal school hours. Albrecht said he expects to have a conversation with the insurance company within three weeks.

Albrecht laid out several “questions that should be explored” at the board’s July meeting, including how many people access the school’s facilities, the ages of the people that utilize the facilities and how to make the school staff present aware that there are people in the buildings.

Albrecht said a report proffered by the district’s IT administrator, Derek Flansburg, answered the first of those questions.

“I did get a list of our building accesses, and I’m less concerned now than I was based on the numbers of people that are accessing it,” he said.

Asleson clarified that the concern involved the school’s facilities and not the community-funded fitness center on the school’s grounds.

“I think there are still some gray areas,” she said. “We still have a lot to hash through.”

Martin said he was in favor of keeping the facilities open for students, saying, “That’s a safe place in our community for our kids.”

The board took no action, with Martin saying, “If the insurance says they can’t [use the facilities], then they can’t, but if they say they can, I say let’s let them use it.”

Construction projects

The board received two on-going project updates for the school’s wall-cladding and siding construction and the crosswalk on Wisconsin 60.

Bill Snow, from the Garland Company, provided the update for the wall-cladding, which he said had experienced some “production and weather delays.”

Despite “significant” holdups on the production side, Snow said the playground area should be completed in three and a half weeks and estimated the entire project would be finished earlier than originally expected.

“Modern Builders has given us a total of 180 construction days to complete the project,” said Snow. “I believe that puts us somewhere in February. Right now, we’re looking at an updated schedule of January 1.”

Modern Builders has reportedly promised more staff as production materials become available. Snow estimated that Modern Builders had a seven- to nine-person crew at the school the previous week. Unfortunately, there were not many panels to hang at the time.

Snow added that the panels used for the school building were the strongest panels the company made and would withstand wear and tear from play balls in the playground area, though he said intentional damage from rocks and other objects could still happen. The district has a paint warranty for scratches and surface damage.

Jeremy Krater, from Team Engineering, conducted a public presentation for the district’s crosswalk project set for Wisconsin 60.

The project will include two advanced warning stands with lighted beacons. One will be at the highway’s intersection with Talbot Street, and the other will be along WI-60. All of the signs and stands will be solar powered, and the beacons will only illuminate when the crosswalk is activated.

The district still had the option to add lighted speed limit signs or radar signs, if desired.

Krachey said the project was in the last step of its environmental studies. He expects the Wisconsin Department of Transportation to take approximately two months to review and approve the project.

“Basically, that puts us into November to get this construction started and built,” he said.

The next regular board of education meeting is scheduled for September 16.

Other business

• approved Miss Herek’s library media service contract for 2024-25.

• approved a preliminary budget for the 2024–25 year. A budget meeting will be held on October 28 in conjunction with the district’s annual meeting and a special board meeting.

• approved Gundersen (Boscobel) physical therapy contract for the upcoming school year.

• approved a new agreement with the Opportunity Center for the upcoming school year.