SHEBOYGAN – Community members can visit one of Sheboygan Area School District’s aging middle schools before construction kicks off this summer for significant building upgrades.
The school district is hosting one last open house at Urban Middle School, 1226 North Ave.,from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on May 11 ahead of construction that will begin at Urban and Farnsworth middle schools in early June after students wrap up the school year.
The project, which calls for partial demolitions, rebuilds and renovations of the middle schools that are nearly 100 years old, is supported by a $121 million referendum that passed in fall 2024. About 65% of Sheboygan County voters supported the referendum.
A preliminary project timeline shows periods of activity lasting until the end of summer 2028, with new construction and renovations happening year-round.
“This isn’t going to be fun for staff,” Jake Konrath, superintendent of the Sheboygan Area School District, said at the April 28 SASD Board of Education meeting. “They’re going to have to move classrooms. They’re going to have to deal with a disjointed building for some time.”
Konrath said the district was aware that pursuing upgrades to the middle schools on their existing sites would create challenges to the schools’ status quo. SASD initially imagined building two new middle school buildings, but an early survey revealed that plan didn’t have large community support.
Konrath said the district is going to support staff through this process, like offering time during professional development days to move classrooms. He added colleagues from other school districts that have gone through the same experience said students have been fascinated by the process.
Construction on Urban, Farnsworth middle schools begins at end of school year
Construction at Urban is expected to start on the west side, with demolition of the auditorium and construction of a new addition with classrooms and a secure main entrance. The demo could be done by the end of summer, but construction on the new addition won’t finish until the end of 2027.
Some classrooms at Urban will be renovated in summer 2027 to facilitate construction, followed by floor-by-floor renovations through summer 2028.
Farnsworth’s addition, with two- and three-story wings for tech education, art and science classes, a cafeteria, band and choir area, and a secure main entrance, could be under construction until the end of 2027.
Renovations, including remodeling the middle school’s gym and fitness center, could happen during summer 2027 and existing building removal could follow at the beginning of 2028.
Construction on both middle schools could be done by the end of summer 2028.
Konrath said, “These timelines are certainly going to change, but it gives a general idea of where we hope to be.”
Contact Alex Garner at 224-374-2332 or agarner@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Sheboygan Press: Urban and Farnsworth middle school construction starts in June
Reporting by Alex Garner, Sheboygan Press / Sheboygan Press
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