Long-range facility planning is a process used to make informed decisions regarding current and future facilities and sites. Planning is supported by:

• Analyzing current facilities conditions
• Understanding objectives and drivers 
• Engaging diverse stakeholder groups to understand values and priorities
• Developing creative and fiscally responsible facilities solutions 

Each potential component identified within a long-range facility plan may not become an immediate reality. The goal is to establish a clear vision for facilities as the foundation for fiscally responsible decision-making today and in the future.

The district is committed to engaging our community and staff throughout planning. In the coming months we will be inviting our stakeholders to attend February facility conversations that will both share information about our facilities and school finance, and ask for feedback. We need to understand our staff and communities’ priorities for facilities to develop a long-range facility plan. 

Bookmark our facility planning page for regular updates including our completed facilities study, timeline, and more!

Maintaining and improving spaces is an ongoing priority for the district. Community conversations in 2022 led to examining current facilities and further facility discussion. As district leadership wanted to continue being proactive with maintenance on aging facilities, a long-range facility plan started to take shape.

Building needs were identified based on this long-range facility plan. Some of these needs are maintenance-based, “big ticket” items that fall outside the operational budget (e.g. roof work). Other needs take into account the importance of evolving educational spaces. Improving these spaces can help impact educational delivery and create a better learning environment for students and staff.

Open enrollment is a state program that allows a student to attend a public school that’s not within their school district of residence. In order for a student to qualify, parents have to submit an application during the annual open enrollment period.

Instead of tax dollars going to their district of residence, families participating in open enrollment have a portion of their tax dollars sent to the district where their child goes to school.

The potential operational and facilities referendums would take place April 1, 2025.

Per Wis. Stats. 67.05: School Boards may only hold referendums during a scheduled spring primary or partisan primary or general election. The resolution must be adopted no later than 70 days prior to the referendum occurring. A School Board may not pursue a referendum more than 2 times in any calendar year.

A facility study is an independent, objective analysis of building and site conditions and an evaluation of the capabilities of the facilities to meet educational and community goals. The facility assessment is often a critical first step in the planning process, helping the district better understand areas of need and deficiency. The document may be used to inform plans for ongoing maintenance, and as a foundation for future master planning or building projects.

It’s important for the district to proactively plan for annual maintenance, regular repairs, and system replacements as part of operational budget planning. By gathering data about facility and site conditions in a comprehensive document, the district will be able to financially plan for current and future needs.

This process does not mean that a system at its life expectancy would be replaced if it is in good working order and has had regular maintenance or upkeep. The facility study will provide the district with needed information to make informed, financial decisions on an annual basis.

We will host a series of Community & Staff Conversations on Facility Needs to share facility assessment findings and needs, as well as to gather community feedback on priorities. With this feedback, we will continue working with GROTH and Findorff to develop potential solutions with costs that align with the community’s priorities.

A potential referendum solution would be developed after the community-wide survey results are presented in late fall. The deadline for the School Board to adopt a referendum resolution is January 21, 2025 for the April 2, 2025 election.

In our second series of Community & Staff Conversations on Facility Needs (happening May 2024), we will share potential solutions with costs. A Community & Staff Survey this fall will be distributed to every household and business in the district to help gather feedback on these potential solutions and costs.

The district will continue sending postcards with reminders for important dates and other information. You can also continue visiting this page, which will update throughout the long-range facility planning process, or contact the district.