Sources confirm that tonight's special meeting called by the Dorchester School Board will focus on the deteriorating conditions of the main school building, as well as options for new school construction. The main building was constructed 80 years ago in 1927. The meeting will be held at 8 p.m. at the Dorchester School. Your attendance is encouraged for this important meeting regarding Dorchester's future.*** Updated 4/23, 3:30 p.m. ***
We have received additional details from Dorchester School Superintendent Alan Ehlers. According to an e-mail from Ehlers, a facility study was completed in January. The study provided four options for the school board to explore. The board has identified the option they feel makes the best long-term choice for the future. Ehlers said he encourages district patrons to attend the public informative meetings in May before making a predetermined position about the project. "The only true way to make that happen is through a vote of the people," Ehlers said. "Everyone that wants to vote should have an opportunity to do so."
Ehlers added: "As we begin the process of looking 30-40 years in the future, I ask you to reflect on the past and the benefits that the 1963 addition has brought to the many students that now call themselves Longhorn graduates. As the board looked at the future, past history indicated that the community had invested in new school additions about every forty years."
"Will we be known as the generation that allows future generations to suffer with below standard facilities -- or worse, a consolidated district that may cause the town to decline and send your tax dollars to another town/district?" Ehlers asked.
Ehlers said that district patrons who want more information about the proposed project or have questions should attend the public meeting or feel free to stop in and visit.
*** Updated 4/25, 8 a.m. ***
According to Superintendent Ehlers, Monday's meeting included an update from Steve Powell from Tru-Built, who gave a presentation on the design and construction of facility improvements of Dorchester Public Schools. Mike Ayars from Ayars and Ayars gave a similar presentation. Lee Kshywonis then held a discussion with the Board pointing out various attributes to consider when making a decision to hire a build-design team. After a brief discussion, Bors made a motion to enter into an agreement for design-build services with Ayars and Ayars, second by Hansen. Voting yes were board members Bors, Hansen, Kahle, Pracheil, Boller and Havlat. The motion passed 6-0. The board has entered into agreement with Ameritas (bonding agent) & Ayars & Ayars (design-build company). If the district proceeds with a project in the future, these companies will be involved. Ehlers encourages all patrons to attend the May 9 community meeting at 8 p.m. at the school multi-purpose room. See The Crete News for complete April 23 minutes.
New school building huh? How will that be paid for? Wouldnt they rather just merge with Friend? What serious deteriorations are taking place at the school?
ReplyDeleteMerge with Friend? And inherit their $500,000 debt? Not in this lifetime.
ReplyDeleteA more modern school would be a needed shot to the arm. It would also allow us to attract and keep good teachers. I would like to see the gymnasium left alone, however. It's still in good shape compared to most schools.
ReplyDeleteThe gym as a building may be in good shape, but the floor is a disaster. The slickness of the floor is out of this world. Its a skating rink and basketball shouldnt be played on it. Basketball and volleyball are games that require quickness... and thats not possible on that gym floor. How about a nicer gym? That way we have 2 and the little PE kids can stay on the "old" one (since we all know they dont change their shoes like they need to). Bulldoze the entire school and start from scratch. How about that? Haha. I do agree that its not the most attractive place for teachers. That does need to change.
ReplyDeleteI hope all patrons of the District will keep an open mind concerning this project. The future of District #44 depends on planning for the future..growing not just surviving.
ReplyDeleteWe agree with the comments directly above. Too many smaller communities in Nebraska have subscribed to a survival plan instead of a formula for growth. Sticking with the status quo leads to deteriation and outmigration.
ReplyDeleteTo retain our brightest young residents, and to attract desirable new families, Dorchester must change course. School, homes and infrastructue are the strongest growth magnets a community can offer. Dorchester can do better on all three counts.
I would love to have a new school for my children to go to in Dorchester. I went to Dorchester from K-12 and I have wonderful memories in that school but it is a great need for a new school. I also do think we should keep the current gym but the bathrooms and locker rooms do need an upgrade.
ReplyDeleteI do think that we all need to look at the current conditions of the school. No, it is not falling down, but if you would look around at what needs to be fixed, and the cost of fixing it, I don't think it makes sense to put the money into the old school. Find out the actual figures of fixing the old part up and match them to what we would have with putting the money into the new part of the school. I might not be the brightest lightbulb in the pack, but I do have common sense. Before you make your decision, find out the facts. My feelings are that if we lose the school, the town will soon follow. The town will grow and prosper with the new school and degrade without it.
ReplyDeleteSmall town life is like wearing a dirty diper: You can sit in your own stink and blame others or you can get up and change yourself. Build the new school and watch a rebirth of the town's pride.
ReplyDeleteA very thoughtful comment was left on this posting by an anonymous writer, who favorably commented on the prospects of a new school building. Due to technical problems, we were unable to post the comment. We encourage the writer to resubmit his/her comments.
ReplyDeleteIf we are going to be building a new school, I guess I don't have a problem with it. But the problem I have is why can't the school be CLEANED! Since they made the good janitors leave, that school is SO dirty, it is disgusting. Bathrooms and water fountains are so sick I do not want my child using them. The stairs have big dust bunnys and the bathroom never has TP or paper towels.
ReplyDeleteWhat is the deal here?
a new school right! Sure it would be nice, but you have to remember alot people around here are on fixed incomes. How would that affect them. They have been talking about merging with other schools for years, and hasnt happpen yet, fixed what needs to be fixed, what happens you put a new school in and the next couple of years the merge anyway. Then what happens, also we been losing so many teachers, for the last 2 years, that doesnt make sense, what is going on there, that doesnt look good for us either.
ReplyDeleteYou gotta love these negatives running around saying "no.....I hate change, I hate improvement, I hate making life better for my family and my community." Grow up.
ReplyDeleteI did not go to Dorchester, but have a spouse who did and children who hopefully will have the same opportunity to go to a small school. At first thought, I was not for the new school, but after talking with another person who did NOT go to DHS, but to another school where they ended up consolidating, she informed me that by building the school, in the event that consolidation does occur, the best school would be used... in this case Dorchester over Friend would be used.
ReplyDeleteIt seems to be the attitude in the community that if someone doesn't have kids/grandkids in school, then they vote NO to save them some money. Seriously, by looking at the increase, the tax increase is only a couple cents difference than just making the minimum renovations that have to be made.
I encourage everyone to keep an open mind for the sake of the children who have yet to get a good education. Don't we as a community want to be part of our youth's success? How can we do that if we don't have a good school and teachers?
Without the Dorchester school system, the community will fall apart. Families will leave and the town will probably become very poor. It would be nice if more people in town supported change so that we could have a well known community for it's cleanliness and goodness and not be known as a tiny dirty town. Let's give this town a good reputation!
to the persons who wrote about the janitors, they have a new one, and i do have to say, he does just as good of job, as are old ones did, you need to come see it now.
ReplyDeleteif we merge with friend people will move from dorchester to friend and the businesses in dorchester will all go bankrupt
ReplyDelete