Teutopolis Residents Hear Options for High School Building

(SOME OF THE TEUTOPOLIS SCHOOL RESIDENTS PRESENT FOR MONDAY'S SCHOOL BUILDING INFORMATIONAL MEETING CROWDED AROUND ARCHITECTURAL DRAWINGS OF WHAT A REPLACEMENT STRUCTURE WOULD LOOK LIKE)

Teutopolis school district residents gathered in J.H. Griffin Gym Monday night, but not for a ballgame. 

Instead, citizens were on hand to hear about plans to renovate or replace much of the Teutopolis High School building.

The plans to renovate or replace the original portion of the building, built in 1929, would cost approximately the same; $6 million to replace the original portion and $6.4 million to renovate that portion. Teutopolis Superintendent Bill Fritcher noted that because of the smaller enrollment of the district, less would be built to replace the original portion than is now in place. Building efficiency accounts for some of that, but much of it is because less space is needed.

The renovation would take the original portion back to its bones, with the work including two elevators and three chair lifts to provide for access-for-all to all seven levels of the structure.

If the decision is to replace the 1929 portion, the section would be demolished and new classrooms would be added onto the west end of the building. An enclosed walkway would connect the remaining existing portions of the building. 13 classrooms in the original portion would be replaced with nine new classrooms. Of the 13 classrooms in the original portion, nine are now being used, although some of those being used are only utilized for one period per day. Two rooms in the shop area would be renovated for use as the band room, with one remaining for Shop.

(T-H-S STUDENT WILL WORTMAN WAS AMONG THOSE PRESENT WHO SPOKE IN FAVOR OF REPLACING THE ORIGINAL PORTION OF THE HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING)

Three methods of paying for whichever option is chosen were reviewed. Health/Life Safety bonds could be issued to pay for either a renovation or replacement. They could pay for replacement since less would be built. Building bonds are an option, and a countywide sales tax could again be pursued. The rub is that, while Teutopolis district voters supported that effort the last time the question was considered, the rest of the county did not. That means the Effingham Unit 40 board would have to vote to put the matter on the ballot, since the initiative must be sought by at least districts containing 50% of the students in the county and Effingham Unit 40 has more than 50% of the enrollment in the county.

The owner of a $100,000 house in the Teutopolis district would pay another $50 per year in property taxes if the renovation option is pursued, the owner of a $200,000 house would pay another $111 per year, and the owner of a $250,000 house would pay another $141 per year.

There was a mention of a cafetorium to be built in place of the 1929 portion that would cost $6.6 million, and another competition gym on the east end of the building that has a $10 million price tag. If all of those items were pursued and the referendum passed, it would mean another $133 per year for the owner of a $100,000 house, another $296 per year for the owner of a $200,000 house, and another $377 per year for the owner of a $250,000 house.

The only citizen comments heard at Monday's meeting, though, dealt with renovating or replacing the 1929 portion of the building. Some comments favored maintaining the original portion for historicity's sake. Others said it's time for new construction to benefit this generation's students.

It was shared that two previous construction projects were paid for with cash, and some wondered whether that's an option now? The answer was that the State isn't as reliable to pay districts what they're owed, and that declining enrollment is generating less State aid.

One person wondered about information on what the 1929 portion is to look like if the renovation is the choice, particularly the exterior. One person said it would be nice if exterior work could be included to help make the portions of the building look alike or at least have some flow to them.

A retired teacher said it was "fix or repair daily" when she taught in the 1929 portion. She said, "I understand nostalgia, but if we can have new for the same money, that's what I choose."

Local businessman Dick Hawickhorst, though, said he'd like to see the original portion renovated and retained, saying it was a mistake when the old Society Hall was taken down around 1980.

Another businessman Rich Hartke said with the threat of rising interest rates, it might be nice to proceed with the work and take advantage of the lower rates.

Yet another citizen suggested placing a video tour on the District's website and on social media so citizens would have a better idea what students deal with on a daily basis.

One of those students, Will Wortman, was on hand for the discussion. He said he is for a new facility.

Other residents asked for information on what maintenance costs the District is incurring to operate the current facilities, and one asked whether consolidation of districts has been considered to cut costs. That question has not been considered by the current board.

Fritcher said a facility survey is going up on the District website and on social media with a reply deadline of March 19. He thinks the Board could decide within the next couple of months how to proceed on the matter.