Facility Planning

Following the February 2026 Board Workshop, the District was charged with exploring in greater depth the DCE Junior High facility planning option that educates grade 9 students at the DCE Senior High and grade 8 students at the DCE Middle School. This includes:

• Further development of building plans
• Fine tuning site plans to address safety and traffic issues related to student drop-off/pick-up/parking
• Examining how best to integrate students and optimize learning and extracurricular experiences.
• Determining what portion of the Junior High structure will remain and how it will be utilized (Stiehm Stadium, locker rooms, the gymnasium will remain in place)

In light of declining enrollment and lagging pupil revenue increases that have not kept pace with inflation, DCE is making every effort to responsibly fund prioritized needs within the District’s annual budget. Facility consolidation or reduction is one of several strategies being examined to ensure responsible stewardship of District resources while protecting classroom instruction. 

Upon reviewing the three proposed options for the DCE Junior High, the Board determined that spending money to “fix” the current Junior High’s aging infrastructure would not be a sound investment for the near- or long-term. Further, the Board determined it would not be fiscally responsible to expand the District’s footprint by constructing a new building and, in fact, charged the District to be creative concerning how we utilize our existing space and downsize our footprint as needed.

This aligns with the District’s budget sustainability efforts to better align our facility footprint with current and projected enrollment, instructional needs and long-term financial capacity. 

This is a fair question, and it’s important to clarify what the 2018 money was invested in and that referendum funds can only be invested in the specifics laid out within the referendum — funds cannot be used for projects outside of the scope of the referendum. 

Referendum funds were invested in replacing end-of-life mechanical and electrical systems and improving security. Mechanical systems were converted to modern DDC and hot water systems, ventilation was replaced and expanded, and high efficiency heating, cooling, and exhaust systems were installed. Electrical upgrades included LED lighting, expanded fire alarm and emergency egress coverage. Architectural improvements refreshed classrooms, updated furniture and casework, remodeled the Little Theater and locker rooms, and addressed specific roof replacement and parking lot repaving. In other words, it was about keeping the air moving and the building safe. It wasn't a structural 'gutting' of the building.

At that time, we were not experiencing plumbing issues. However, in Fall 2024, we faced a game-changer. We discovered major failures in the original 75-year-old clay pipes buried 20 feet under the school. You can't predict a deep-earth pipe failure like that during an HVAC upgrade.

Further, in 2018 enrollment at DCE was growing and remained steady through the 2022-23 school year. In the past three years, DCE head count has decreased by 270 students. For comparison purposes, the head count was 6,005 for the 2018-19 school year and was 5,730 for the 2025-26 school year.

In light of declining enrollment and unexpected plumbing issues, we were faced with a choice: Do we spend millions more to dig up the foundation of a 75-year-old building to fix pipes that have reached the end of their life? Or do we take the equipment we bought in 2018—which is now about 8 to 10 years into its 20-year lifespan—and pivot to a more sustainable, long-term solution by retaining the newer, updated portions of the building and halting investment in the portions of the building that have reached their structural limit? We determined that throwing more money into a 75-year-old structure wasn't the fiscally responsible move our taxpayers expect. By moving students now, we are actually saving the community from a "money pit" scenario where we fix the pipes today, only to have another 75-year-old system fail tomorrow. 

Further, by preserving the Junior High gymnasium and updated locker rooms, and repurposing a portion of the school as a multi-purpose space, we are cost effectively addressing the District’s need for additional gym space for a variety of athletic programs. For example, the multi-purpose space will be available for grade 6-8 wrestling.

Additionally, the infill pool space at the Senior High and Junior High multi-purpose space will be available to better accommodate the needs of the growing DCE Girls Wrestling Team and DCE Dance Team. Ultimately, by utilizing and repurposing existing space — rather than building a new gymnasium — the District is opting for a more cost-efficient option.

It sounds contradictory: if we have fewer students overall, why are we expanding our buildings? The answer comes down to two critical factors: where the enrollment decline is currently hitting us, and the physical reality of consolidating our secondary grades. Here is why targeted additions are necessary.

The "Enrollment Wave" Hasn't Reached Secondary Schools Yet

Enrollment declines do not hit every school or grade at the exact same time. Instead, the District’s decline is like a wave, starting from the bottom up.

• Our sharpest drops are happening with our youngest learners. For example, our 4-K enrollment peaked at 371 students in the 2019-20 school year. This year (2025-26), our 4-K headcount is down to 292 students—a 21% decrease. We see similar shrinking numbers in our elementary buildings.
• The decline has not reached our older grades yet. The DCE Senior High currently houses 1,290 students, which is actually higher than it was ten years ago.

Eventually, those smaller elementary classes will become smaller high school classes, but that is years down the road. Right now, our secondary school student populations remain full.

The "Consolidation Crunch"

By decommissioning the aging Junior High building to save on long-term operational costs, we would have to move approximately 844 students to new homes.

Moving the 8th grade would add roughly 415 students to a Middle School that would hold about 824.

Moving the 9th grade (Freshmen) would add roughly 429 students to a Senior High that would hold about 1,298.

Even with an overall district decline, our schools cannot suddenly absorb more than 400 additional students into a single building. By choosing to build targeted expansions our schools will be able to handle the influx of students safely and effectively. The expansions will include learning and common spaces, as well site updates. For example: 

• You cannot fit 400 extra students into the current Middle School or Senior High cafeterias during normal lunch periods.
• Secondary students require specialized spaces like science labs, Career and Technical Education (CTE) spaces, and IT facilities. You cannot simply put a CTE lab or chemistry class into a standard classroom.
• Adding hundreds of students means adding significant traffic. We must update parking, drop-off, and pick-up loops to prevent gridlock and ensure student safety.

Ultimately, the DCE School Board has chosen the fiscally conservative option — saving millions in daily operational costs (like busing, utilities, and traveling staff) — by redistributing students to two buildings. The targeted additions ensure we can handle this transition safely, without over-building for the future when those smaller elementary classes finally grow into high schoolers.

Stiehm Stadium will remain at its current site. The District is exploring how to expand parking options and improve safety in the parking lot.

The District is exploring what portion of the DCE Junior High structure will remain and how it will be utilized. Preliminary plans are to retain the gym and locker rooms, and the team is exploring whether other newer portions of the building will remain and be re-purposed. Stiehm Stadium will remain on site. The District also is exploring how to expand and improve the safety of the parking areas.

In this manner, the District can align the facility with educational/athletic needs and financial capacity, while reducing its facility footprint. 

The facility planning options produced during part I of the process did take into consideration how best to serve the increased headcount of students at each school. This included taking into consideration the need for expanded lunch rooms/commons, performing arts spaces, IMCs, gym/locker room space, science labs, and Tech Ed and Special Education classrooms. These options are currently being refined in part II of the facility planning process.

The District has teams in place who will examine current curricular offerings, learning structures (such as the House system at the DCE Middle School) and extracurricular opportunities to craft a plan that will optimize integrating 9th graders into the Senior High and 8th graders into the DCE Middle School. The goal is to increase opportunities for all students.

DCE prides itself on offering students a diverse selection of courses to meet a wide variety of interests and career paths. However, in order for a course to run, a set number of students must enroll for the course. By expanding the Middle School to a three-year learning experience and the Senior High to a four-year learning experience, it increases the likelihood that more courses will meet the minimal enrollment requirement. Further, this new model will better position the schools to offer courses on alternate years — again increasing the likelihood that minimal course enrollment numbers will be met. Ultimately, this should increase students’ opportunities to enroll in courses that meet their particular interests and needs.

In addition, this model will provide operational efficiencies. Currently, some duplicate courses are offered at the Junior and Senior High, and students are transported to and from both schools during the school day to ensure students have access to certain courses. 

Since 2011, per pupil revenue increases have not kept pace with inflation for Wisconsin schools. This, coupled with declining enrollment, means that the DCE workforce will need to be reduced over time. That process began with the 2025-26 school year, will continue with the 2026-27 school year and is anticipated to continue for the foreseeable future. 

Throughout, the District has done its best to fill vacancies caused by staff attrition (due to retirement, relocation, etc.) with current employees who would like to remain with the District in an effort to ensure we do not have to make additional staffing cuts. We also examine each vacancy in light of current demographics and projected enrollment trends to determine whether the position should be filled.

These same processes would be utilized with the closing of the DCE Junior High. The District is committed to working with DCE Junior High staff and asking them what their individual preference would be and then using that information to determine staff placements that will optimize student learning and staff satisfaction.

Yes.

As part of the facility planning process, the team is exploring site update options that will improve parking, dropoff and pickup at both schools. This includes exploring options to separate staff, student and visitor parking lots and improve traffic flow for dropoff and pickup lanes.

As part of the facility study, Somerville reviewed the conditions, challenges and capacities of our school buildings. The pool at the DCE Senior High is more than 50 years old and approaching the end of its service life. Pipes and ventilation systems are corroding, and compared to more modern facilities, the pool has fewer lanes and less spectator seating. As a result, a significant investment would still mean maintaining an outdated space. After the February 2026 Board Workshop, the Board requested the District explore option to determine whether the District should continue to invest in the existing pool or consider a plan to build a more modern, 8-lane pool with expanded spectator seating. Similar to other community projects (like GTCC), the District would seek donations to help offset construction costs for taxpayers.

The district and planning team met with the Board on February 16 to share facility options and cost budgets for Early Childhood (EC)/4K and the Junior High. Discussion on these options revolved around central topics, such as:

• What's best for students
• Fiscal responsibility
• Preserving DCE's high standards (DCE's "essence") and offering families quality choices
• Aging infrastructure at the Junior High

The Board also discussed potential options surrounding a pool, which is approaching the end of its service life. These options are being looked into further by the district, Findorff, and Somerville. The Board also stated that the District could explore a potential referendum, and asked to be provided with options, ideas and strategies.

Following the Board workshop, district leaders held additional meetings with EC/4K, Middle School, Junior High, and Senior High staff throughout the rest of the month. Conversations will continue with staff in the coming weeks, leading up to a Parent and Staff Survey in April.

The end of 2025 and start of 2026 have been busy with facility planning work and new milestones.

In December, preliminary options were finalized with the district, consisting of three options for the DCE Junior High and four Early Childhood/4K options. Somerville issued these options to Findorff to price. The options and cost budgets were shared with administrators on January 26 and will be brought to the Board during the February 16 Board workshop.

The January 26 admin meeting incorporated time for questions and feedback. Good discussion ensued, covering topics like the importance of considering operational costs for each option (in addition to upfront construction costs), impacts to the D.C. Everest learning experience, traffic and parent pick-up and drop-off considerations, and additional ideas to explore.

The Core Team met in person on October 6 and discussed what 4K/early childhood could look like in terms of capacity at each of the elementary schools.

At the November 3 Core Team meeting, Findorff shared facility condition pricing at the Junior High. Preliminary budgets for capital maintenance were discussed, with estimates shown by category (building envelope and roofs, interiors, site, and systems), as well as by priority (most critical to least).

Somerville provided high-level concepts that covered a range of scenarios and outcomes for the Junior High and early childhood/4K programming. Great dialogue amongst the team helped begin to refine some of the ideas, as well as consider new potential solutions.

The team rounded out the meeting with discussion on Guiding Principles. Drafting these principles and defining “D.C. Everest Standards” will guide the option development process, continuing to prioritize the district’s values and how to best support teaching and learning.

Following the Core Team’s meeting on November 3, Somerville reviewed preliminary options with Junior High and 4K/Early Childhood (EC) admin, and gathered initial feedback.

Junior High - November 12
Somerville shared four main options, ranging from renovations and addressing capital maintenance to closing the building, as well as building new. Additional ideas were brought forth for discussion, including a large group space and/or additional conference room, football/locker room location, and relocating student services.

4K/EC - November 20
Somerville presented seven options, and discussion included considerations such as keeping the 4K/EC team together, working with community partners, and neighborhood schools. Aspects related to teaching and learning were also identified, like sensory spaces and sharing resources/tools.

Junior High Facility Condition Assessment (FCA) work has continued with report preparation and project estimating. The Somerville and Findorff team members have had regular meetings to discuss and review their findings.

A District-wide educational adequacy assessment is continuing with Somerville meeting with students and staff for listening sessions to gather input on all aspects of the District’s buildings.

On September 24, Somerville met with the high school Superintendent’s Student Advisory (SSA) members. The students provided valuable feedback about the junior and senior buildings, as well as their thoughts on the transition from junior to senior high.

Junior High Facility Condition Assessment (FCA) work has been continuing with additional site investigation. The Somerville and Findorff team members have had regular meetings to discuss and review their findings.

District-wide Educational Adequacy assessment is continuing with Somerville meeting with Principals and Directors, including Special Education, School Nutrition Directors, and Building and Grounds to gather information on all aspects of the buildings.

Electronic surveys were sent out to Junior High staff (47 responses) and 4K staff (10 responses) before they left for summer break to gather feedback on how current educational spaces were meeting their needs.

Junior High Facility Condition Assessment (FCA) kicked-off with a site investigation visit on June 23, 2025. Somerville and Findorff team members visited the school to investigate the building infrastructure and systems.

District-wide Educational Adequacy assessment is underway with Somerville having met with Principals and toured schools on May 22, June 23, June 26 and July 10.

The District also received a final report from the UW-Applied Population Lab providing an analysis on future enrollment that will support long-range planning efforts.

Next steps

The remaining school tours, site investigation and staff meetings will occur in July, August and September, which will support the Learning & Exploring phase of planning.