NEW LONDON, WI – Facility upgrades at New London High School continue this year as the district wraps up the third phase of a long-term flooring replacement project.
Director of Business Services Joe Marquardt says the effort stems from the building’s age, noting the high school is now about 25 years old. “As a building ages, flooring, especially carpet, it just ages. It needs to be replaced,” Marquardt explained, adding the district’s Board of Education identified key areas in need and developed a phased plan to address them over time.
Marquardt says that planning has been critical, as completing the work all at once would be both costly and difficult with school in session. Instead, the district has tackled the most worn areas each year, beginning in 2024, continuing in 2025, and now into 2026. He adds the phased approach also helps the district manage budget constraints, allowing improvements to move forward in a financially sustainable way.
This year’s work focused on the band room and a multi-purpose room, with the district also converting some spaces to luxury vinyl tile to match earlier corridor upgrades. Marquardt says the most recent phase cost about $36,000 and reflects the district’s ongoing investment in maintaining its facilities.
Looking ahead, one of the biggest remaining projects is the school library. Marquardt says its size makes it significantly more expensive than other areas, which is why it will likely be completed last. He also credited the district’s partnership with architects for helping design the phased plan, making the bidding process more efficient and allowing the district to steadily improve the building year by year.
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