Post Messenger Recorder -

Dear Community Members,

Several weeks ago, we wrote to you about several needs related to Belleville’s schools and the process the school board was using to engage the entire school district community in finding the best ways to address those needs. We are writing to give you an update.

As we have noted previously, while the district’s facilities may appear to be in good shape, especially from the outside, and have been maintained extremely well, some of the district’s older buildings now require costly repairs that go well beyond what can be saved from year to year in the district’s maintenance budget. Some of our buildings also lack modern security features and are energy inefficient, even by the standards of decades ago.  

In addition, as teaching and learning practices have evolved in recent decades and as we have raised the bar for what students must learn, modern classrooms have also changed. Simply put, advances in teaching, technology, and curricula mean that some of our classrooms need to be larger and more flexible so that our students can have access to the important new tools they need. Additionally, efforts to differentiate students, as required by law, demands different kinds of classroom spaces.

In an effort to engage the entire district community, the school board established an Educational and Facilities Planning Committee. Comprised of a cross-section of the Belleville community, including current parents, retirees, school staff, and school board members, the committee began its work in October and has now reached the halfway point of its mandate.

The community’s participation in this committee has been simply outstanding; nearly 50 community members are already a part of the committee, with more joining at every meeting. The team assisting the district in this process continues to be amazed by our high degree of community participation and has told us that this level of involvement is unprecedented, even in much larger districts.

Throughout this process, we have been constantly reminded of how truly remarkable the Belleville community and its school district are. Committee members have worked hard and asked difficult questions of themselves, the board, and the administration. They are now in the midst of weighing a wide range of different, tentative facility solutions.

As this process continues, we welcome additional community members to serve as part of this group and have their voices heard. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend. Our next meeting will be held on March 23rd, at 6:30 p.m., at the Middle/High School Library. More information about the committee and this important process can be found on the district’s website: http://www.belleville.k12.wi.us/district/facilities.cfm.

If you have any questions, concerns, comments or feedback please contact the district office at (608) 424-3315 or email yoderp@belleville.k12.wi.us.

Sincerely,

Angela Edge, School Board President

Pam Yoder, Superintendent