School board chooses manager to oversee tech ed construction project

The School District of Rhinelander’s board of education has chosen a project manager to oversee the additions to and remodeling of James Williams Middle School and Rhinelander High School authorized by district taxpayers on April 2.

On a 5-4 vote Monday evening, the board chose C.D. Smith Construction, based in Fond du Lac, over Miron Construction, headquartered in Neenah

The vote was held following the second of two closed session discussions. The first took place on May 13 when the district’s capital projects ad hoc committee listened to presentations from both firms.

Following the presentations, the ad hoc committee decided to move the matter to the full board without making a recommendation. 

The board spent approximately 45 minutes in closed session Monday before emerging to vote in open session.

Board member Duane Frey made the motion to select C.D. Smith. David Holperin, Ron Lueneburg, Merlin Van Buren and the board’s newest member, Patricia Townsend, joined him in voting in favor of C.D. Smith

Board members Ron Counter, Mike Roberts, Judy Conlin and Mary Peterson cast the dissenting votes.

After the results were confirmed, Counter suggested the board unite behind the majority’s choice.

“I just want to say one thing as we move forward here, even though we may have voted different, let’s give all our support to (Smith),” he said.

The other board members responded with “absolutely” and “amen”.

“Two good companies,” Roberts noted.

The next step is to “formal negotiations” with Smith “and the creation of a contract,” according to Clint Selle of Bray Architects, the design firm the district has been working with on the tech ed project.

According to a handout distributed by the district during the run-up to the April 2 referendum vote, the Rhinelander High School portion of the project involves:

• Creating a dedicated space for home construction classes

• Adding autos/small engine/marine shop course

• Relocating and expand the woodshop

• Renovating metal/welding/manufacturing shop

• Creating a fab lab and robotics area

• Renovating existing science labs and 1958 restrooms

At James Williams Middle School, the district is planning to:

• Add tech ed classrooms

• Relocate and update existing tech ed and art classrooms

• Relocate and update the choir classroom

• Relocate and update family and consumer education classrooms

• Add special education classrooms

• Renovate existing offices/improve building security

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

District officials framed the $26 million project as critical to properly train the next generation of workers and ensure all students learn necessary lifelong skills.

A review of the tech ed curriculum and activities began back in 2021. Work continued in 2022 with meetings held with local industry partners. These sessions were particularly helpful, according to district superintendent Eric Burke, because it allowed for educators to speak directly with industry leaders about the skills they are looking for in their new hires.

Then there were a series of tours of other schools so Rhinelander officials could see how other districts are delivering technical education to their students and what might work locally.

In September 2023, after nearly two years of research, the school board directed that a community survey be conducted to gauge voter interest in potential renovations and upgrades.

In a series of informational meetings, school officials stressed that the district’s current facilities are quite old — dating back to 1974 in the case of James Williams Middle School and the late 1950s in the case of  Rhinelander High School — and much of the equipment is more than 60 years old and no longer used by local industry/business partners.

Also, tech ed classes — where students learned a wide variety of skills such as how to design and manufacture wood, metal and plastic products, auto and small engine repair, the ins and outs of circuits, home construction, and many things — have become increasingly popular with young people.

After over 75 percent of survey respondents said they would definitely or probably support a capital project/tech ed referendum, the board formulated and approved a referendum question to be placed on the April 2 ballot. It passed with approximately two-thirds voting in favor.

Construction is expected to begin next April with completion scheduled for August of 2026.

According to Burke, the majority of the work will take place during the two summers as well as the 2025-26 school year.

Reorganization

In other business, the board officially reorganized following the April election where  Townsend unseated incumbent Ben Roskoskey. Townsend and the two incumbents who were re-elected — Holperin and Counter — took the ceremonial oath at the outset of the meeting.

When it came time to nominate officers, Holperin nominated himself for board president. Longtime board president Ron Counter was also nominated.

“The old saying is, if it’s not broken don’t try to fix it. Nothing is broken here. I think the district is in great shape but all good organizations occasionally change leadership, sometimes they bring in new energy, fresh ideas and certainly some sense of urgency,” Holperin said in support of his candidacy.

“I believe I do a halfway decent job,” Counter said on his own behalf.

Counter prevailed on a 6-3 vote conducted via secret ballot.

The nominees for vice-president were Holperin, who again nominated himself, and Judy Conlin.

Conlin was selected by secret ballot voting. She has previous experience as board vice-president, having held that position prior to Roskoskey, who was the board’s most recent VP.

The board also approved a new contract with Bowen’s Bus Service for student transportation. 

A separate story on that vote will be published in a future edition of the River News.

Heather Schaefer may be reached at [email protected].