GREEN BAY, Wis. — Jenna Paal’s voice echoed as she talked about the gymnasium at Beaumont Elementary School in Green Bay.
The gym doubles as the school’s lunchroom.
“It’s our gym, it’s our lunchroom and that drives a lot of our scheduling,” said Paal, who is the school’s principal. “We have to be strategic about when we can have those specials for kids and what does that learning look like in the classroom, then to work around those specials and ensure we’re able to use that space appropriately.”
“Specials” are activities like physical education class and mealtimes.
Paal said the joint gym-lunchroom is one of the areas that would be addressed if a $183 million referendum from Green Bay Area Public Schools is passed by voters on Nov. 5.
Beaumont was built in 1959. Despite changes and fixes over the years, school officials said it doesn’t meet some of the needs of students and staff.
That includes the guidelines of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
“We focus a lot on the ADA aspects of the building. How do we service all students and give them an equal learning opportunity?” Paal said. “It goes from the switches on the doors to be able to let them come in, but also giving them opportunities in the classroom to be in the classroom and to be supported with what they need to be with their peers.”
District officials point to Beaumont as one of the schools that could see improvements if the referendum passes.
It will also pay for new bathrooms, improved security, gyms, kitchens, breakout areas, more classrooms and expanded special education areas at more than a dozen schools.
“Special education services we provide, counseling services, things like that those spaces weren’t allocated for at the time this building was constructed,” said Chief Operating Officer Cale Pulczinski.
In the case of Beaumont, why not just build a new school?
“That is a difficult balance. Would we all love to build brand new schools to get another 100 years out of them? Of course, but that’s just not realistic,” he said. “We’re trying to be responsible.”
At Beaumont — which is expected to see an increase in students with boundary changes — the referendum includes plans for a new commons and an updated kitchen.
“As you take a look around, there’s multiple areas in the school that just aren’t updated and haven’t been for years,” Paal said.
