Old vs. new buildings: School board candidates debate costs, options

ANTIGO — Five of six candidates running for the Antigo School Board in the April 2 election suggested Wednesday that it will likely be less expensive to construct a new school building than to continue financing updates to the city’s three existing elementary schools.

The candidates took turns speaking about several issues at a well-attended meet-and-greet session in the banquet room of Northstar Lanes.

The five candidates who introduced themselves to the voting public were Jennifer Welch, Jill Mattek Nelson (incumbent), Leigh Roehrig, Jenny Kressin and Scot Peterson. Danny Pyeatt, president of the school board, was absent due to a prior commitment, and Andy Merry (incumbent) is not running for re-election.

Old buildings are not necessarily bad buildings, but there are concerns about the energy efficiency of heat leaking from existing windows and unused space in the existing buildings, the candidates said.

The school district is in the early stages of assessing six existing buildings, including three elementaries, a middle school, the high school, and the district office building. Amid this ongoing conversation about facilities, the school board at its Jan. 29 voted 4-2 to consolidate three principal positions into two.

JENNIFER WELCH

Welch said there is a need to put up a new building because the existing schools in Antigo are so old that her grandparents were students at them.

“They need to be shut down,” she said, supporting the idea that at least one new building would be less expensive for taxpayers than continuing to spend money on existing facilities.

JILL MATTEK NELSON

Nelson pointed out that the community has struggled to pass a referendum. She said the school district needs better financial and strategic plans.

“If we would need to go to a referendum, I would be in support of a new build,” she said.

LEIGH ROEHRIG

Roehrig warned that the district is falling behind in terms of formulating a plan to keep up with maintenance on its schools. “I believe it is time to move forward and to build a better school for our children,” Roehrig said.

JENNY KRESSIN

Kressin agreed it would cost more money to renovate Antigo’s three existing elementary schools than to build a new facility. “I can’t imagine what it would cost to bring three elementary schools up to par and teach the kids decent,” Kressin said.

SCOT PETERSON

Peterson said he believes a high percentage of Langlade County residents are over age 59. “We need to get some young people in here,” he said. The school district should move forward with things like a new science lab, he said, because it’s too late to go back to the days of the one-room schools he read about in Pleasant View and Spring Valley, which are several hours in different directions south of Antigo.

OTHER ISSUES

Speaking to other issues, the candidates said issues spurring them to run for school board include transparency, accountability, involvement of the whole community, concerns about district staff, teaching English to students, development of successful work skills, and keeping pace with ushering in new technology.

Welch said the two biggest issues for her were bullying and underappreciated teachers.

She said elementary school was a disaster for her son.

“He was constantly bullied. I talked to the principal. I talked to the teachers. It just got swept under the rug.”

“We can identify problems, but we have to look for solutions,” said Nelson, stressing that the school system needs to emphasize academic achievement.

Roehrig expressed concerned about mental health issues and social disabilities. “We need a better support system for these children to become successful in society.”

“Our gap in the math test scores is closing,” Kressin said. “Reading hasn’t improved this year as much as we had hoped.”

“I just want to be somehow part of the process of making this place a better place,” Peterson said. “I’m not blaming anybody.”