Nearly 80 Attend Special School Meeting

A proposed addition to the Dorchester School has generated considerable interest as nearly 80 visitors attended a special meeting Wedenesday evening in the school multi-purpose room.

Last night’s meeting was held to inform District 44 patrons about the deteriorating conditions of the school’s main building, built in 1927. All school board members except Bill Boller were present along with administration staff. Visitors were briefed on the facility study and presented three separate plans to renovate or replace the 80-year-old structure. Architect Christy Joy of Archi+Etc., a Lincoln firm, gave a PowerPoint presentation explaining the options and the costs involved. Afterwards, Ms. Joy fielded questions and students conducted tours of the facilities.

Two of the options being considered by Board members would provide the minimum maintenance required to bring the school into compliance with 2007 standards. A third option presents a more comprehensive plan, which would likely serve the school through 2050 or beyond.

• Option 1(a) carries a price tag of more than $1.8 million. This plan – the least expensive – would make minimum modifications to the 1927 building to bring it up to code. This would include the addition of an elementary attendance center and separate administration office space. Portable classrooms would be removed and new parking area away from playgrounds would be added.

• Option 1(b) is estimated to cost $2.6 million. The plan calls the full renovation of the 1927 building, including an “elevator for vertical accessibility.” A small wing for administration staff would be added to allow for supervision. Similar to the first option, a new parking area would be added and the portable classrooms would be removed.

• Option 2, the most comprehensive plan, would cost $3.98 million. The plan would completely revamp the school campus, with a new building to replace the 1927 structure and portable classrooms. New additions would surround the 1963 gymnasium. The additions would provide space for an elementary attendance center, an administrative wing for supervision, and modern rooms for high school classes.

The next regular monthly Board meeting will be 8 p.m. Monday, May 14.

*** Update 5/11, 9 p.m. ***

Due to a post from reader Mike, we received several e-mails about taxes collected by both Dorchester School and City Hall. A Saline County comparison of taxes collected by school districts and cities can be found here. This chart is an eye-opener. For example, in 2005-06, the City of Friend, with a population of 1100, collected almost $300,000 in net property tax revenue, with another $150,000 coming from State Aid. Compare that to the City of Dorchester, which took in $90,000 in net property tax revenue and $62,000 in State Aid. That's a $300,000 shortfall when compared to our neighbor to the west. The majority of Friend's city tax dollars are not from agricultural property owners, unlike the school's revenue. Therefore, this comparison of the two towns presents the best case yet for Dorchester's need for economic development, business recruitment and new homes.