Board agrees to
lease church space
By Barbara Brown The North Branch School board voted unanimously to lease space from the Trinity Lutheran Church at a Saturday meeting, March 16. The board had to reschedule its regular meeting, which had been scheduled for last Thursday evening, because of a snow storm. Leasing new building space at the Trinity Lutheran Church means that they would have the most square footage of four options, the possibility for up to 16 classrooms and reduced concern over having students spread through several off-site leased buildings. Board members were given four leasing options at Saturdayís meeting. The first was to rent 4,525 square feet from the North Branch United Methodist Church. That space would have freed up enough space for three and one-half classrooms. The district would have moved early childhood education into the church space. Cost for the first option would have been about $61,915 in the first year and about $27,000 each following year. First year costs consist of set-up, furnishing, technical equipment installation and initial supplies. Out-year costs include hiring additional teachers, specialists and administrators, continued cleaning and maintenance costs and food service costs. A second leasing option would have put about 9,293 square feet at the districtís disposal. The option combined leasing space from the Methodist church and a building planned for the corner of 3rd and Main streets. That option would have opened a total of about seven classrooms at a first-year cost of about $168,890 with ongoing costs at about $131,000. The third leasing option combined renting from the Methodist church, the building under construction and space in a future building planned for the 6000 block of Main Street. Total square footage in that package was 11,746 at a first year cost of $623,000 and an ongoing cost of about $427,000. The Trinity Lutheran Church leasing package offered 26,230 square feet and frees up enough space for 16 classrooms. First year cost would be about $514,930 and ongoing cost would be about $350,000. The board can levy for leased space, but a limit is set by the state. Board members still hope voters will pass a building referendum that would help alleviate longer-term school crowding problems. Lease negotiations for the Trinity Lutheran Church will begin soon and the board agreed to move sections of third-, fourth- and fifth-grade classes to the church building if lease negotiations are successful. Holding secular school classes in a church building is neither illegal nor unheard of, said Dr. Bob Stepaniak, superintendent. About 15 years ago, North Branch had its kindergarten classes in Trinity Lutheran Church and third-grade classes were held in the Methodist church. Stepaniak said that if any parent has a concern over their child taking classes in a church building, arrangements could be made to put that child back into the regular school building.
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