On April 7, 2020, our community approved a $55.7 million referendum to support needs related to school facilities, including increasing space in buildings, and maximizing the safety of our sites. Design and construction planning for all of our buildings occurred over the last year, driven by hours of meetings, engagement, and feedback provided by teachers, administrators, and other key stakeholders. Now, the Mequon-Thiensville School District is just over three weeks away from breaking ground on these projects!
The district, along with our partner, Hunzinger Construction Company, are committed to a “School First, Construction Second” approach, ensuring that there is minimal disruption to our learning environments throughout the construction process. Hunzinger will work closely with district and building administrators to uphold the integrity of our students’ educational experience while construction is underway.
Safety
Site safety during construction is a top priority, with each site having specific construction logistic plans. Hunzinger and the district have procedures in place for providing orientation for staff and subcontractors, which includes extensive background checks and safety training for all employees. Each employee working on site will be trained on MTSD’S emergency response plans and will participate in school emergency drills. Construction employees will also strictly adhere to the district’s COVID-19 mitigation procedures, including the use of face coverings, physical distancing, and mindful hygiene practices.
Site Access
When instruction resumes after Spring Break, you will notice changes at many of our school sites. In the first phase, scheduled to take place from April-June, families will notice construction fencing in place, site work beginning, and building preparation for future phases at the elementary and middle schools. Construction will not begin at Homestead High School until this summer.
As construction begins, we ask that families please follow all posted signage at each school to keep everyone safe. Additionally, elementary and middle school families should be sure to read your school’s parent newsletter in the coming weeks which will include more detailed site-specific information. We will also be updating our Referendum Project website regularly, and will continue to provide monthly updates during our Board of Education Business Meetings.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the construction process, please contact Kyle Thompson, Director of Maintenance and Operations ([email protected]) or Sarah Viera, Executive Director of Business Services ([email protected]).
Thank you for your patience and flexibility as we work toward improving our educational environments for all students!
