Courtesy/Pictured: Newman Grove Elementary
NEWMAN GROVE, NE – It isnt just the enrollment of Newman Grove Elementary that is growing, so is the age of the school.
The Newman Grove Elementary School building was built in 1930 and has a never ending list of problems that is progressing the push behind a bond issue that will be on the voter ballots next Tuesday, Nov. 14.
Superintendent Mikal Shalikow says the building has ran its course and they are looking for options to do with the building.
Some of the issues with the building have to do with convenience and safety problems including only one bathroom for boys and one for girls out of all three-stories, no fire suppression system and some questionable fire escapes.
Whats really at concern is the daily walk across highway 45 that kids could walk up to four times a day for meals, gym and music at the junior and senior high building.
Not only is the walk dangerous, Shalikow mentions to the Sandhills Express that his staff estimated the time it takes to bundle kids up and help them cross the street could add up to eight days worth of missed instruction time.
With a $12.5 million bond the district would be able to demolish the existing shop from the junior/senior high building and add on an elementary. That would leave the elementary building to possibly being used for a daycare, early childhood center and/or a vocational ag building.
With the understanding of frustration from local farmers and them taking a blow with an expected seven cent levy increase if the bond passes, Shalikow says, This is something we believe we have to have in order to provide the best education for our kids.
