Show-and-tell

One of the hallmarks of the School District of Rhinelander, particularly in the last half decade or so, is an emphasis on pathways. While there was a time when a four-year college degree was seen as a necessity for most, in recent years the district has taken a more expansive approach focused on ensuring all Rhinelander students get what they need in their public school years in order to reach whatever goal they might set for their future, including immediate entrance into the workforce, a two-year program, military service or some combination thereof.

Attendees of the open house had an opportunity to tour the existing tech ed labs and classrooms at JWMS and see some of the items students have created.
(Photo by Heather Schaefer/River News)

To that end, the district is considering a potential capital project focused on improving technical education facilities.

A survey aimed at gauging community support for a potential referendum to fund additions and renovations at the middle school and high school has been mailed to all district voters and Wednesday evening district officials held an open house at James Williams Middle School to show voters the current facilities and explain what could be possible if a referendum is passed.

According to Bob Thome, the district’s director of business services, the price tag to complete the renovations/additions to both schools is approximately $26 million. 

That would translate to an extra $29 of property taxes on a $100,000 home.

Wednesday’s open house began with a summary of the additions and renovations the district is considering.

According to handout distributed to attendees, at Rhinelander High School the project would:

• Create a dedicated space for home construction classes

• Add autos/small engine/marine shop course

• Relocate and expand the woodshop

• Renovate metal/welding/manufacturing shop

• Renovate existing science labs and 1958 restrooms

At James Williams Middle School the project would:

• Add tech ed classrooms

• Relocate and update existing tech ed classrooms

• Relocate and update family and consumer education classrooms

• Renovate existing offices/improve building security

• Improve bus pick-up and drop-off traffic flow

“Technical education courses allow students to design and create wood, metal and plastic products, learn to weld, fix cars, marine repair, and build houses,” the handout states.

Many of the existing classrooms and labs in both building haven’t been updated for decades (1958 and 1974 respectively) and students are increasingly interested in jobs in the technical sphere, district officials noted.

Student interest in tech courses has nearly doubled in the past two years, the open house attendees were told.

It was explained that all seventh-grade students are required to take a technical education course so that they have some exposure to potential careers in this sphere, but many are interested in delving further into topics like welding, home construction and robotics.

District superintendent Eric Burke noted that several representatives from the local business community, as well as Nicolet College, are partnering with the district in this effort. Local employers are providing input on the skills and training necessary to fill positions in their industries and the K-12 and Nicolet officials communicate regularly to ensure they are not duplicating offerings and ensuring students can move from the high school level to Nicolet as seamlessly as possible and make their way into the workforce that much more quickly.

“Taking on a project like this is really not only just about the physical facilities, it’s about supporting our community as a whole, supporting our students and community members, giving them opportunities they might not have had,” noted the district’s director of curriculum Ryan Ourada. 

According to Burke, the district has received almost 1,100 responses to the voter survey as of Wednesday. Survey responses will be accepted through Oct. 9 and district administration will take the feedback to the school board on Oct. 16.

It will be up to the board to decide whether to move forward with a referendum or not. If the board chooses to go to referendum, the vote would take place in April as part of the spring elections.

For his part, Burke stated that he would “feel strongly” about the need to improve technical education facilities, even if he were not district superintendent.

“We want Rhinelander to be a place where people from all over the state, but especially the northern region, look to as a leader in this area,” he said.

A second open house — this one at Rhinelander High School — is scheduled for 6 p.m. Oct. 4.

Heather Schaefer may be reached at [email protected].