Another large crowd filled the Prairie Central High School gymnasium for the third of four community engagement meetings on the school district’s future Monday night.
The most recent PACT, or “Planning a Course Together,” meeting focused on scenario refinement.
Two types of scenarios were presented: Scenario A which focused on grade centers and Scenario B with a combined elementary.
Different options under each include:
A-1: PK-4 elementary centers with grades 9-12 at PCHS, 5-8 at PC Junior High, PK-4 at PC Primary East and PK-4 at PC Primary West. Under this plan, PC Upper Elementary and PC Elementary would be retired. Cost is $63.4 million.
A-2: PK-4 elementary centers with grades 9-12 at PCHS, 7-8 at PC Junior High, 5-6 at PC Upper Elementary, PK-4 at PC Primary East and PK-4 at PC Primary West. PC Elementary would be retired. Cost is $52.7 million.
A-3: PK-3 elementary centers with grades 9-12 at PCHS, 6-8 at PC Junior High, 4-5 at PC Upper Elementary, PK-3 at PC Primary East and PK-3 at PC Primary West. PC Elementary would be retired. Cost is $61.2 million.
B-1: PK-4 elementary with grades 9-12 at PCHS, 5-8 at PC Junior High and PK-4 at an elementary building. PC Upper Elementary, Primary East and Primary West would be retired. Cost is $63.4 million and an extra $21.9 million to build a new elementary for a total of $85.2 million.
B-2: PK-4 elementary with grades 9-12 at PCHS, 7-8 at PC Junior High, 5-6 at PC Upper Elementary and PK-4 at an elementary building. Primary East and Primary West would be retired. Cost is $52.7 million and an extra $21.9 million to build a new elementary for a total of $74.5 million.
B-3: PK-3 elementary with grades 9-12 at PCHS, 6-8 at PC Junior High, 4-5 at PC Upper Elementary and PK-3 at an elementary building. Cost is $59.3 million and an extra $21.9 million for a new elementary for a total of $81.2 million.
Options A-1, A-3, B-1 and B-3 were popular among those in attendance after information was shared later in the evening.
“We’re not saying we need more space, we’re saying we need different space,” Prairie Central Superintendent Paula Crane said.
Crane noted district enrollment has been declining, likely due to lower birth rates, but is expected to level off in the future. She said the district functions well in regular class settings but is lacking specialized spaces.
Prairie Central staff members Chastity Pick and Angie Kratochvil shared thoughts from a teacher’s perspective.
“Sixth, seventh and eighth is very common around our surrounding districts,” explained Pick, referring to the makeup of a junior high school.
“We know that all teachers benefit from collaboration with peers,” said Kratochvil.
According to Pick, efficiency is key and specials could be offered at the lower grades while class sizes could be more even with a better use of staff and resources. She said students under one roof could get things done at the same time.
“Students are more likely to have access to the same educational materials,” Pick stated.
Kratochvil reminded the audience they were sharing information from input submitted by teachers.
Damien Schlitt of BLDD Architects said educational space to support teachers and curriculum was the most important thing to those attending the previous informational meeting.
“I think we can all agree we have a wonderful set of teachers in this district,” said PACT co-chair Anna Schmidgall. “The charge is to develop a long-range facility improvement plan.”
Schmidgall reminded the audience that no decision on a plan or future direction has been made.
The next public meeting is set for May 6 at Prairie Central High School starting at 7 p.m. This will be an option forum with public polling to pick a plan to recommend to the school board.
