For years, students in our school district have relied on the same clocks to tell time. They determine the schedule of our day: when we eat, when we learn, and when we leave. Now, in an effort to improve safety and efficiency, new clocks are coming to De Pere in the spring of 2026.
The project is being spearheaded by Curt Pieschek, director of Technology for USDD.
Pieschek first brought the idea forward during talks preceding the referendum in Nov. 2024. The project, which will cost about $370,000, was ultimately included in the $22 million cost. With that being said, money was saved on the clocks.
“It actually came in less expensive than our original estimate,” said USDD board member Colleen Nowak.
Why, people might ask, do we need new clocks?
“When you have different clock systems and not everyone wants to take care of them, it just gets to be hard,” said Pieschek.
Many clocks in the High School do not perform their basic function, whether they display the wrong time or do not work at all. Some include the clocks in the gym and a few near the band room.
Another main concern of administrators is daylight saving time changes; many clocks across the school district require manual adjustments twice a year.
“It gets tedious for ourselves and for our teams,” Pieschek stated.
However, the main focus of these changes is the safety of De Pere students and teachers. The new Raptor Security system, which was implemented in all schools last year will be compatible with the new digital clocks.
Raptor, an integrated school safety software, is used throughout the De Pere district as a way to track visitors, manage fire drills, and monitor overall safety.
This software will be able to display messages on the new digital clocks so that every student stays in the know during emergencies.
“We will be able to have more visibility for students at any given time, even if you’re in the hallway or not in the classroom, there’s going to be something projected,” Nowak explains in regards to the digital clocks.
According to Pieschek, digital clocks cost more than ten times the price of analog clocks, so they will be reserved for hallways and common areas, while each classroom will receive an analog clock.
Both Pieschek and Nowak are expecting that the new system will be installed sometime in the spring, though a specific date has not been set. Pieschek hopes that installation can take place during Spring Break.
“An ideal time would be spring break, but it’s really hard to navigate when things are going to be shipped,” he said. “We really are trying to focus on doing everything we can to improve the safety and security in our schools.”
