Antigo School Board begins assessment of district buildings

ANTIGO — The Buildings and Grounds Committee of the Antigo School Board Monday night stressed the importance of fact-finding and transparency during the early stages of assessing the condition of at least six buildings in the school district.

The committee continued its discussion about the role of the Blue Design Group, a Hortonville architecture firm that was recently hired to assess the condition of Antigo’s three public elementary schools, the middle school, the high school, and the separate school district office building.

“They’ve been on site for two days and have done a lot of exterior analysis so far,” said Jake Leiterman, district supervisor of buildings and grounds in his update report to the board. Leiterman and several committee members said there is no specific plan right now to renovate any building, demolish a building or construct a new building.

School Board President Danny Pyeatt indicated that several school districts in the northwoods have seen a decline in student enrollment. Antigo’s student enrollment is steadier than the nearby Merrill School District, which has seen an enrollment decline of 600 students in the past 10 years.

“We do have a slight decline, but more information will come out on that because we’re going to do a full analysis,” Leiterman said. Enrollment projections are still very much in the assessment process, but once the school board gets information back then it will be able to answer specific, detailed questions, he said.

“We just want some professional opinion on the condition of our buildings,” Leiterman said.

“The Blue Design Group was very impressed with the number of people that came to the interview process,” Pyeatt said. “They didn’t think that they would see that many people.”

“I think that’s something that we really need to get out to the public,” said Jill Mattek Nelson, a committee member. “If you disagree with us, please ask directly or come to the task force so we can get everybody’s perspective,” she said.

“We’re not going to try to sell you the idea. We want to hear your thoughts, your concerns,” she said.

SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION FORUM School board member Andy Merry also said Monday that the six candidates, including two incumbents, running for three school board seats on April 2 will hold a meet-and-greet introducing the candidates to the public at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Northstar Lanes, 400 Prosser Place, in Antigo.