Owen-Withee School Board Discusses FEMA Grant After Project is Advanced to Federal Level
Thursday, December 12th, 2019 -- 8:39 AM
-The Owen-Withee School Board discussed the WASB Education Convention at their meeting on Monday.Board members Julie Wendler, Angela Greschner, Kim Amacher, Charlie Milliren and Dean Schmelzer indicated that they will attend the WASB Education Convention in January. District Administrator Bob Houts will check with the remaining board members regarding their intentions. They also discussed the spring election. Board members Charlie Milliren and Dean Schmelzer are up for reelection. Mr. Houts provided both with the paperwork to declare that they are or are not going to run in April. Finally, the board had a lengthy discussion on the FEMA grant process and the building project that is would entail. They found out last week that their project was chosen as one of nine Wisconsin projects to be advanced to the federal level for consideration. If successful, they could qualify for $1.4 million in grant money with roughly $600,000 in matching funds from the district. The money would be used to provide a “safe room facility” that community members can use in times of emergency. This is the maximum amount of grant funding that they could receive.
If the project goes over that, the district is responsible for the overage. The board was tasked at last night’s meeting with locating where they want the addition and what facilities would be in the new building. The board’s preference for location is on the east side of the building between the high school and the elementary school. Areas to be included are a cafeteria with multipurpose space including stage, basketball/volleyball court, community meeting rooms, etc. Other areas, that would be outside the grant area, discussed included the ag/tech area, an outdoor learning facility at the Hoard School Forest, the track, parking areas, handicapped accessible bathrooms, remodeling the current cafeteria/ kitchen area into a fitness center/locker rooms. There was a SPECIAL BOARD MEETING yesterday to continue the discussion. Jordan Buss, the consultant/grant writer that the board has hired was at the meeting to lead the discussion.
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