Tuesday, September 10, 2024
By Lee Reinsch
Correspondent
DE PERE – The West De Pere school district is willing to sell a couple of houses for a low price as long as the buyers are willing to move them.
The district purchased 743 and 747 Grant Street, which are adjacent to West De Pere High School, and plans to raze them to make way for an enlargement to the school’s parking lot.
The board voted unanimously Sept. 12 to offer the houses for sale with removal at the buyer’s expense.
Offering the houses for sale would save the school district money on demolition and materials disposal as well as help recoup some money from the sale of the houses.
Extra credit
The finance committee of the West De Pere school board discussed the possibility of looking into finding a better way for its employees to make reimbursed purchases.
Right now, there is one district credit card, and anyone needing to use it has to physically pick it up.
“Right now, I can’t register for a conference or pay for accommodations until I’m able to get the card,” said Brian Walters, finance director for the West De Pere School District. “What’s happening now is that people are paying for things out of pocket and filling out forms to get reimbursed later.”
One option used by other districts is a purchase card system that offers rebates and rewards and could save the district thousands of dollars each year by returning money back.
“We could be saving $20,000 a year,” Walters said.
The card has no annual fee.
“This is one of those quick and easy lifts that we can do here and there that add up to a lot of money saved,” said Scott Borley, school board member and member of the finance committee.
The topic is still in its preliminary stages.
Possible equipment purchase
The district may be getting a piece of equipment that would make lawn care and snow removal easier.
Currently, the district doesn’t have a large utility tractor that has attachments for various tasks. It could be useful on the loading docks when unloading equipment and furniture.
Such tractors cost between $60,000 and $70,000, depending on the types of attachments needed, and most school districts have one.
Wrightstown has two, Walters said.
It’s budgeted for this school year, with the purchase possibly in the spring.
The topic came up at a recent school district finance committee meeting.
Currently when the district needs such a gadget, it rents one, and pays a service for snow removal.
Borley suggested before making any purchase decisions regarding a utility tractor, the district research how much it generally spends each year to rent a similar piece of equipment.
You’re invited
The public is invited to the district’s annual meeting at 7 p.m. Oct. 15, at West De Pere High School auditorium, 665 W. Grant Street.
The annual meeting budget report is available upon request at the district office.
Early graduation
The school board voted to hold graduation a week earlier this school year.
Instead of the traditional day for the commencement ceremony, the first Sunday in June, graduation for the Class of 2020 will be at 2 p.m. May 31.
Principal Russ Gerke cited the length of school breaks, the dates of vacation, and fluctuation in the last day of school as factors in changing the date.
