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JWIS Building Closure FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions about the Possible Closing of the Intermediate School

• Why is this concept even being discussed?

Funding for public education has been cut by 9.5% in the last year.  Due to this cut and due to the impact of declining enrollment in the district and the increased expenses associated with health insurance and other fixed costs, USD #340 is having to adjust the budget by almost $600,000 for next year.  This follows a year where we have already adjusted the budget by $377,00 for THIS YEAR and are looking at possible very substantial cuts for NEXT YEAR in addition to the $600,000 already mentioned.

• How much money would this action save the district and how?

Closing the Intermediate School is projected to save the district around $150,000 in expenses every year.  The areas of savings are found in eliminating five classified employee positions, eliminating the utility costs of operating that building, and eliminating the costs of transportation associated with shuttling students out to that attendance center and the reimbursement that is paid to certain employees (P.E., librarian, music, band, principal) as they travel to that building to serve the Intermediate School students.

• Will the specific five classified employees in the Intermediate School lose their jobs if the building is closed?

Not particularly.  The district will look at all of the classified employees and then make decisions that will best serve the students of the district.

• Where would the fourth and fifth graders go to school?

There are two possibilities: they could all be housed in the Elementary School or the fourth grade could go to the Elementary School and the fifth graders could go to the Middle School.

• Is there space for the Intermediate School students in the Elementary School and/or the Middle School?

If ALL of the Intermediate School students are placed in the Elementary School, the pre-schools would have to be relocated elsewhere and the Art classes would have to be taught in the individual classes instead of in the Art room.  If the fifth grade is placed in the Middle School, there would be room to house the fourth grade in the Elementary School without having to move the pre-schools.  Due to resignations and absorptions at the Middle School, the fifth grade would fit without having to move any classes out of the building.

• If the fifth grade is moved to the MS, how much interaction would they have with the seventh and the eighth grade students?

The interaction would be minimal as the fifth grade would have a separate lunch period and would operate within their own wing of the building.  There would be some interaction as the students would go to the specials classes, but there are several districts in the area who maintain 5-8 buildings (Perry, Royal Valley, Hiawatha, Santa Fe Trail, Tonganoxie, and Horton) so we would learn successful strategies from them and implement them at the Middle School.

• What would closing this building do to class-size?

The closing of the IntermediateSchool would have no impact on class-sizes.  Absorbing teaching spots has an impact in this way.  Decisions for the placement of the teachers have not been made for next year yet, but as the time comes closer for this decisions to be made, factors such as number of students in a given grade and the curriculum needs of the various grades will be taken into consideration.

• What stipulations exist on the use of the Intermediate School building?

There are none.  We have received written confirmation from the Office of the Secretary of the Army that USD #340 may use the Intermediate School building in any way desired.

• Who might use the Intermediate School in the future?

No decisions have been made regarding this, but several organizations have been contacted about this idea.  At this point, Keystone and Head start have expressed interest in possibly using the building.

• Would the district still have access to use the gym and baseball field?

Yes.  That would be written into the contract for the building.

• Will the district receive rent from whomever takes control of the building?

That has yet to be determined, but the district does understand that the building is a valuable commodity and would expect appropriate compensation for the use of the building.

• What other areas are being considered for meeting the fiscal challenges facing the district?

Literally, EVERY budgetary area of the district is under scrutiny, including personnel, athletics, utilities, instructional supplies, and activities.  Along with all of these areas of possible cuts, the district is actively considering other venues to enhance revenue streams into the district, including the district mill levy, increased fees for activities and sports, population growth, and grants.

• What is the timeline for making the decision regarding this issue?

The Board of Education will address this issue during the February 8 Board Meeting which is scheduled to take place at the High School.  IF the decision is made to close this building, the BoE will hold a special planning session on March 1 to discuss the placement of the fourth and fifth grade students.  The final decision of where to place the students will be made during the March or April Board Meeting.

• Will modifications need to be made to the other buildings to move the Intermediate Students there?

No.  There are a few projects like repairing a portion of the roof at the Elementary School already in line to be completed, but these projects are NOT associated with the move of the students.

• What if the student population grows, making it necessary to find additional space for the students of the district?

Keeping this possibility in mind, the contract for the use of the Intermediate Building will dictate that the school district will maintain the right to take the building back with the proper notification.