The meeting was also recorded and is available to view over the school’s YouTube channel.
District Administrator Jane Wonderling welcoming those in attendance and stated that the purpose of the survey was “to consider a referendum to address school district facility needs,” and also to “make sure the community’s voice is heard.”
And with the previous referendum debt scheduled to be paid off in 2024, 10 years early, the district is able to consider building improvement projects.
Proposed improvement projects would be at both the elementary school and middle/high school.
Wonderling went on to explain, that the estimated cost to address these needs is $17 million. The survey does ask residents to indicate whether they would support such a referendum, which is projected to hold the mill rate steady at 8.69.
The four areas the proposed district project would address are:
- Maintenance repairs/updates
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance
- Classrooms and support spaces
- Planning for the future with a vision for expansion and growth.
As Wonderling explained, the high school roof from the gym to the music rooms needs to be removed and replaced. The current roof is 70 years old and is prone to leaks.
At the elementary school the roof builds up an ice dam in the winter which results in the roof leaking. The roof needs to be repaired and install a new drainage system
The survey does also asks residents if they would support an additional $3.5 million project to free up space for future expansion into the middle/high school. This project involves relocating the football field.
The would project to raise the mill rate to 9.03, which would still be below the 2022-23 mill rate
School Board President Peter James then spoke and reiterated the fiscal portion of the proposed referendum, again stressing that the previous referendum debt will be paid off early and the tax mill rate has either remained steady or decreased.
James did also state that this would also allow the district to “build a prudent fund balance,” and there has been no short term borrowing by the district for the past three years.
Further information is available the community surveys that were sent out on Nov. 13. Paper surveys can either be mailed in or returned to any school building
The survey may also taken online by going to https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.feedback2000.com%2F&data=05%7C01%7Ctyra%40morriswi.com%7C513d977717b742382a9308dbe9d6b41b%7C596d7feeb08c4816b9fc4c6034829fc6%7C1%7C0%7C638360880614733319%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=6k27sb3k%2BKNc%2B63HDBkfPshaOUtbFCTPKMxc8MdEilo%3D&reserved=0 and entering a survey code included with the sent paper copies.
Surveys must be completed by Dec. 6, with the results of the survey expected in late December. Results will be posted on the schools website.
After the informational portion, those in attendance were able to ask questions and/or give feedback to school administrators, school board members, as well as representatives from Performance Services Inc. (PSI), a design/build company.
A few questions that were asked were would the proposed football field be grass or turf, which the reps from PSI stating it would be grass. And if the district’s fund balance like “a saving account,’ to which district bookkeeper Chad Freymiller replied yes, with explanation of the monthly cash flow with revenue and expenses.
