PRESCOTT – The flurry of building activity at Prescott School District facilities is winding down with students getting ready to return to the classroom for the 2023-24 school year.

The district’s Intermediate School is now located at 125 Elm St. N. Fourth and fifth grade students will attend class there. The former high school building at 1220 St. Croix St. is now the Prescott Middle School for sixth through eighth graders.

Except for some minor finishing touches, Prescott Superintendent Dr. Rick Spicuzza told the school board at its meeting Wednesday, Aug. 16 that everything will be ready to go.

“This is an incredibly unique year for the Prescott School District and for the community. We have flip-flopped two buildings,” said Spicuzza.

The official school start day is Friday, Sept. 1. However, students are encouraged to attend “Return to Learn” days on Aug. 30-31. Buses will run those days, and meals will be served.

“We’re really excited for these days,” said Spicuzza, noting that not only will it help students build relationships, but they’re also part of the district summer school program, which means state aid for the district for students who attend.

School Board President Mike Matzek praised district staff for making the move happen over the summer months.

“It’s impressive to get this done in a short amount of time,” he said.

In addition to the move, there was a full slate of projects from a referendum approved last year to update heating, ventilation and plumbing where needed, as well as a variety of other projects.

“The main question you may have is are we going to be able to open? The answer is absolutely. The show must go on,” said Spicuzza.

Final inspections of the buildings were scheduled for early this week.

He said that all furniture is where it needs to be in three of the four buildings. Some sinks need to be installed at Malone Elementary. Final moving trucks will deliver items that had to be stored over the summer were set to deliver to buildings this week, with the football team stepping up to help unload.

Teaching staff will be given time during in-service days to get their classrooms organized.

“It’s a fight to the finish, but we will be there,” he said.

Facility rental

The board reviewed a new facility rental plan presented by Prescott High School Principal Josh Fiege.

“Last year, we had increased interest in accessing our space in public schools. It’s a good problem to have,” said Fiege. “ComING out of COVID, people were really interested in getting kids into structured activities.”

The district facility rental options, pricing and requirements are located on the district website with a “clear and easy request form,” said Fiege.

“Everything from birthday parties to a wrestling event with a thousand people, we’re trying to make it as easy as possible,” said Fiege.

People or groups renting the facilities have to have proof of liability insurance.

“This is the area we had the most questions on,” said Fiege.

Most groups that are part of a larger association usually have a policy covering events. Other organizations are encouraged to become a part of Prescott Community Recreation or Prescott Community Education, and then the school district insurance covers them.

Fiege said that six families utilized Malone Elementary space for birthday parties last year. Parents wishing to do that need to see if their homeowner’s policy covers their party.

“It was difficult for them to navigate that liability insurance. We’re looking at what acceptable alternatives are. We’re going to try to see what we can do,” said Fiege. “Our goal is to have something that works for insurance but that is streamlined and easy to read.”

He said that many districts no longer rent facilities for those kind of events.

“A lot of our comparable districts no longer rent to individuals. Most don’t because of this very topic,” he said.

Groups pay a different fee if they are a non-profit, a non-profit charging admission or a church, social or political organization. At the top end are business or commercial groups or other out of district organizations. The high school gym rental is $30-$75, depending on the group renting. Rental of some areas, such as the weight room and a kitchen area could also mean paying a district staff member at $45 per hour is required also.

Meeting notices

The district officially posts its notices of school board meetings at Prescott City Hall and the Prescott Post office, as well as in the Pierce County Journal and on the district website. Spicuzza said the post office will no longer allow non-post office materials on its bulletin board. He said Ptacek’s IGA has said they will set aside a place there where agendas can be posted.