Barry Cain

The Ellsworth Community School District will be conducting a survey of residents this fall regarding a number of facility upgrades for a possible April 2024 facility referendum. 

This survey will provide decision makers with valuable information about our residents’ interest in addressing a number of facility needs and upgrades in various areas. Projects included in the survey will include the following areas:

• Middle School - Funding would provide for various life cycle needs of this facility along with light remodeling to locker bay and Career and Technical Education areas. Examples of life cycle needs include new flooring, windows, doors, HVAC, parking lots, etc. as this facility is nearing 30 years of age. 

• Senior High School - Funding would provide for various life cycle needs very similar to the middle school while also providing for modernization and expansion of the current Career and Technical Education areas along with new fitness areas which will include a fitness facility for both school and public use. 

• Exterior Physical Education and Athletic Area Upgrades - Upgrades to the existing exterior physical education and athletic areas are being proposed to provide for expanded and more reliable areas for phy ed classes, school sports programs, and community recreation programs. Football/track facility upgrades being proposed include an artificial turf field, improved track and field areas, new lighting, new bleachers, etc. There is also an artificial baseball/softball field that is being proposed on the current field space south of the middle school to provide for a quality space to meet the needs of school baseball and softball programs. Additional upgrades to other field spaces are also being proposed to provide for high quality spaces that better serve program needs.  

• Childcare Facility - The addition of a childcare facility onto Ellsworth Elementary School is also being researched to address the dramatic shortages of childcare in our community. This facility would be able to serve about 55 infants to age 3 children.  

The above projects are the result of the most recent facility study completed this past winter and spring to best identify our most pressing maintenance needs while also visioning how to best provide for quality school and community programs now and into the future.

Over the coming months, much more information will be presented to the community to best inform all residents about the proposed projects. The survey is presently targeted to be available to all residents in October. Each household will receive the opportunity to complete a survey in written form or online.