|
School Board Letter: " FACTS REGARDING THE OLD BUFFALO
HIGH SCHOOL SITE
"
October 25, 2006 Dear Patron,
As members of the Johnson County School Board, we will, in
this letter, address some of the facilities issues that we have worked with
during the past six years, particularly those concerning the disposition of the
current Buffalo High School building. As stated in Wyoming Statute 21-3-111
(powers of boards of trustees), The board of trustees in each school district
within the state may: (ii) Acquire, hold, convey, lease, rent and manage
property, real and personal for the benefit of the school district….
We have, then, assumed the responsibility of acting for the benefit of the
school district in these decisions.
- In November , 2001 voters approved a bond referendum
for $8.5 million dollars for building enhancements (including an auditorium,
gymnasiums, shop areas, science classrooms, and technology) that the state
of Wyoming would not fund in our building projects for Buffalo High School
and Kaycee K-12 School.
- During the 2003-2004 school year, the School
Facilities Commission (SFC) and local officials developed and agreed on a
plan to build Clear Creek Middle School on the current site of the Buffalo
High School Ag parking lot with the understanding that the present high
school site would be an integral part of the new middle school campus
(which would include children’s playground areas and green spaces).
- After public meetings were held in Buffalo in January
and February of 2004 to gather input, the local School Board submitted a
plan for the new Clear Creek Middle School and campus which the SFC approved
and funded. This funding included the new school, playgrounds, green
spaces, parking and the demolition of the old BHS building.
- Two different local groups approached the board to
save the old Buffalo High School building, one group in 2004 and the other
in the last two months. The
School Board is committed
to the approved building plan for the following reasons:
- SFC guidelines for middle schools recommend 13.5
acres of space for a population of our size. The current campus,
including the old high school building and the old Bison Bowl Football
field, is only 12.0 acres.
- With the current high school building occupying a
significant portion of the new Clear Creek Middle School campus, the
space issue becomes apparent when you consider the actual useable
acres. The current high school is on a very steep hill, which will
be leveled when the old BHS building is removed. This will allow for
the much needed playgrounds and green spaces for our middle school
students.
- Safety of students is a primary concern of the
School Board. We have recently put in place stringent safety guidelines
in our schools. Some of this safety would be diminished with the
presence of a Community Center as part of the middle school campus.
- The new Buffalo High School houses a state of
the art auditorium/theatre which the community requested and which
has been funded. The new building also houses an indoor walking
track, which will be available to the community. The new high
school houses two full size gymnasiums and a full size
wrestling / practice room. Including the gymnasium at the new
middle school site, plus the two small gymnasiums at the old middle
school site, the total is five gymnasiums. We currently have
three.
- According to estimated figures in the BCCC
proposal, general operations needs and building costs for the proposed
community center would total $300,830 annually. These estimated costs
would translate to $824.00 per day in operational and building costs.
Included in these estimated costs is the statement that “Increased
building maintenance funds should be assumed during future periods.”
Currently, there is no partnership in place to ensure that the taxpayers
will not be saddled with the expense of running and maintaining this
building. BCCC funding proposals are contingent on the approval of
grant applications, on private donations, and on the commitment of
future operational funds by a recreation district board that does
not exist.
- The responsibility of the School Board is to plan
for the future development and expansion of our schools, and land
options are limited.
The present Buffalo High
School site is not only an integral part of the new Clear Creek School
site, but it also provides an option should facility expansion become
necessary. The present Buffalo High School site is not for sale.
The Johnson County School Board has asked the BCCC to
consider the old middle school site as a viable option for a Community Center.
Imagine if we could turn the old middle school site into a stage for cloggers,
the bi-annual Hospice show, World of Music programs, classrooms and spaces for
groups, clubs, youth and adult organizations needing space? All of these
scenarios are possible at the old middle school site . . . and yet, the BCCC
group has shown no interest at all in this site.
The decision to demolish the current Buffalo High School
was not made lightly. It was made three years ago as part of a comprehensive
plan to create a campus for elementary and middle school students. We have been
very public about our decision, and the decision has always been to create the
best and safest school for our students, which is our responsibility according
to State Statute. We respect the views of the BCCC, and yet we have different
obligations.
Sincerely,
Johnson County School Board
Lorri Lutterman, Chairperson
Mary Cunningham
Deb Hepp
Deb McMahon
Susan Palmerlee
Rhonda Ramsey
Teresa Saxbury
Marcy Schueler
Jack Tarter |
|
