WP Schools board hears facility options

Wauneta-Palisade Schools board members moved a step forward in planning the school’s future at a July 14 school board meeting.
Carl Deitz with First National Capital Markets and Mark Lewis with BD Construction both spoke at the meeting.
First National Capital Markets performs feasibility studies for schools. Lewis performed a mechanical audit of the school in 2017.
For them to plan for the future of WP, both wanted to know what the school board envisioned.
School board members said they are planning for at least another 50 years for Wauneta-Palisade.
Three options were suggested.
First, the school continues to be run as is.
Second, one site would be added on to and run as the school’s sole facility.
Third, the Wauneta Attendance Center could be renovated and the Palisade Attendance Center rebuilt.
Though problems keep cropping up at the Palisade Attendance Center, the Wauneta Attendance Center is structurally sound. A renovation at Wauneta could cost as much as a rebuild, however.
Deitz said the school would operate most efficiently with one facility, but added that closing one facility will not save enough to pay for the renovation of the other.
School board president Allison Sandman said their biggest question may be, “What if we have to close one attendance center?”
Deitz is expected to return to a school board meeting in the next two months with figures for the board to review.
Sandman said something will have to be done in the next five years, especially to keep the school in ADA compliance.
While the district is financially stable, Superintendent Randy Geier said the board will have a wait-and-see process for funding.
“It’s going to be interesting to see how the project unfolds,” Geier said.
He added that, 15 years ago when he interviewed for the principal position, the school was making plans for the Palisade building.
“We want to make sure we do our due diligence so we can provide the best educational opportunities for our students,” Geier said.