February 6, 2025
Dear Vilas School Community,
I am writing to update you on an exciting new development regarding our school facilities. As you know, we are committed to ensuring that our students have a safe, healthy, and supportive environment in which to learn and thrive. In that spirit, I am pleased to share that we are working with a dedicated team to apply for another Building Excellent Schools Today (BEST) grant this spring.
This grant, if awarded, would allow us to consolidate our district buildings by constructing a new cafeteria, construction trades facilities, and gymnasium. During phase one of our district construction project, we discovered that our current construction trades facilities are out of code, as are some key components of our cafeteria. Unfortunately, the financial estimates to bring these facilities up to compliance were significantly higher than the current value of the buildings themselves. This prompted us to explore alternative options to better serve our students and community.
After numerous discussions and careful deliberation, the school board and administration has determined that the best path forward is to pursue the final construction phase to complete the facilities district plan to consolidate our buildings. This decision not only makes financial sense but also aligns with our educational goals. Connection of all our main buildings will enhance the overall safety of our students while providing them with improved facilities that support their health and education.
We want to emphasize that we are not asking the community to pass a bond or increase our mill levies for this project. We deeply appreciate the community’s continued financial support for our student activities.
While this project is still in the early planning stages, we are excited about the possibilities it presents for our district. We will continue to work closely with our team to develop a strong grant application, and we are committed to keeping you informed as the project progresses.
Thank you for your ongoing support and dedication to our district as our goal remains steadfast to create and maintain facilities that support the safety, health, and whole child education of our students and staff.
Your partner in education,
Abby Pettinger
Superintendent