Grade reconfigurations, capital maintenance projects to begin 2026-2027 school year
The Wautoma Area School Board of Education unanimously approved a plan to close Riverview Elementary School at the end of the 2025-2026 school year and transition to a three-school district. The decision was made during the Board’s monthly meeting at Wautoma High School on Aug. 12.
Following months of discussion, the district’s grade reconfiguration changes will take effect in the fall of 2026. At that time, Redgranite Elementary will remain an Early Childhood-5th grade school with no maintenance or renovations planned. Parkside will serve Early Childhood-6th grade. Although the district’s original long-range facilities plan had both elementary schools serving Early Childhood-6th grade, the Board and administration chose to move Redgranite’s 6th graders to Parkside.
“With the failed referendums and declining enrollment along with an aging building, the district has decided to downsize and close Riverview Elementary,” said WASD Administrator Karl Morrin. “These are never easy decisions but we as a district will move forward with our reconfiguration plan and still give our students a great educational experience.”
With the addition of Redgranite’s 6th graders, Parkside will have three sections of 4K–5th grade and four sections of 6th grade. Renovations to prepare Parkside for the change are projected to cost $640,000-$750,000, excluding expenses for a new age-appropriate playground, fencing, moving costs, and technology upgrades.
The Wautoma Middle/High School will transition to serving grades 7-12 at an estimated cost of $810,000-$930,000. Planned updates include renovating the current CESA IDS classroom to provide special education services; creating a space for a 7th/8th grade counselor; and upgrading existing classrooms to add more high school core class space. To accommodate the younger grades, administration plans to place 7th and 8th graders on a separate bell schedule and make flexible use of classrooms for multiple purposes.
Due to the failure of two recent referendums, renovations at Parkside and the Middle/High School will be minimal to make the spaces age-appropriate for the new grade configurations. Over the next four years, the district must also allocate $6.5 million from the general budget to complete priority capital maintenance projects at both Parkside and the Middle/High School. Administrators continue to work with Findorff and Plunkett Raysich Architects to develop a detailed budget and timeline for these projects.
The long-range plan, approved in January 2025, states: “By realigning grade levels across the remaining three buildings, we can create more cohesive and equitable learning environments and opportunities while maximizing available space. Additionally, the plan prioritizes addressing deferred maintenance to extend the life of our facilities and enhance their functionality.”