By Mark Messman, Superintendent EV-W Schools Referendum
As you know, the school district will be asking you to support a Nov. 6
ballot question to add safety and security features to each elementary school, and also update many of the roofs, mechanical systems, and outdated HVAC equipment throughout the district. I’ll take the next few weeks to highlight individual building needs, proposed improvements, and the cost allocated at each site.
Built in 1927, Eden Valley-Watkins High School serves approximately 470 students in grades 7-12. We are planning for the replacement of roofs over seven separate sections of the high school facility. Major mechanical improvements to HVAC will provide efficiency, improved comfort and climate, and cooling to the 1927 and 1952 additions, shops, weight room, wrestling room, Peps Neuman Gym, art, FACS, choir, and kitchen. Other mechanical improvements will include replacement of the original cast-iron sewer lines installed 91 years ago. Lighting upgrades will round out the mechanical work to be completed in the original high school. Building renovations to the 1927 school will include work on hallways, floors, ramps, and additions to the bathrooms for ADA compliance. In total, we have approximately $2,225,000 budgeted for the needed improvements to the Eden Valley-Watkins High School.
I encourage you to stay informed and engaged with the ongoing referendum plans that provide our students with safety and security. All of our meeting minutes, documents, floor plans, budgets, and tax impact can be found on the front page of the school district website. I hope you can join us at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 2, in the HS Cafeteria, or at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 16, in the Watkins Elementary Gym to review and comment on our request to improve safety and security throughout the district.
Senior Spotlight
The EV-W School District would like to recognize Anna Kahlstorf, daughter of June and Brad. Whether it is excelling academically in the classroom, editing the Eagles’ Cry newspaper, participating in Knowledge Bowl, or competing at the state level in speech, Anna continues to impress. Anna recently attended our Fall World’s Best Workforce meeting and spoke on behalf of the student body. Following high school graduation, Anna plans on attending the University of Wisconsin in Platteville and major in Forensic Science. The EV-W administration, faculty and staff are extremely proud of Anna and her many accomplishments. Congratulations!