Post Messenger Recorder -

Dear Editor,

We are writing in follow-up to continued efforts by the School District of New Glarus to place the south entrance point to the new K-2 elementary school at the intersection of 8th Street and 11th Avenue. While the District has repeatedly insisted that their proposed location is the best option from a DOT traffic study standpoint, several community members have expressed concerns about child safety and infrastructure issues at that location and both the Village Board and the Plan Commission have already rejected that location.

Those that live in and around the neighborhood of the proposed site for the new K-2 school have noted that there aren’t sidewalks on any of the roads leading up to 8th Street, with the notable exception of 9th Avenue, which was completely redone this year at a cost of between $1.3-$1.4 million to the taxpayers of the Village. It is highly likely that the same scope of work would be needed for 10th Avenue, 12th Avenue, and 8th Street in order to address the safety and infrastructure concerns. The Village simply does not have the money available to address all of these needs in the short-term and is trying to work with the District to explore a viable alternative off Windlach Street.

We are asking other community members to voice their support for this alternate entrance point off Windlach Street and let the School District of New Glarus administration and school board know that they should work in good faith with the Village to make this happen so that work on the new school can begin.

Submitted by Concerned Neighbors,

Bill and Deb Saunders, Christie Schaper, Donna Disch, Terry and Kathy Casey, Dorene Disch, Shelly Johnson, Tony and Nancy Sinnott, and Karen and Aleko Moisiadis