By Kevin Boneske
Staff Writer
ASHWAUBENON – Less than a week remains for district residents to complete a survey they received in the mail earlier this month to provide feedback on possible referendum questions for next year.
The school board is considering a variety of facility improvements with an estimated total price tag of $20.85 million for a capital referendum, as well as an operational referendum of $730,000 annually for five years.
Keith Lucius, business director of Ashwaubenon schools, said residents have until Oct. 28 to complete the survey, which may be done online with the survey access number at Feedback2000.com, or mailing a paper copy with the responses to School Perceptions, 317 East Washington St., Slinger, WI 53086.
School Perceptions is the firm assisting the Ashwaubenon School District with the survey.
Lucius said the board will be reviewing the survey results later this year to decide whether to ask any referendum questions next April and for how much.
After paying off the remaining debt this year on previous building projects, the district is looking at making a variety of facility improvements with the debt portion of the school property tax bill dropping and reducing the tax impact of any new spending.
The survey refers to a base plan with an estimated cost of $10.05 million, which includes:
• Improving school security and safety at Cormier and Pioneer Elementary School ($3.9 million).
• Adding air conditioning throughout the high school, Pioneer and Valley View Elementary School ($4.35 million).
• Updating district facilities ($1.8 million) to remove asbestos, repair the Pioneer gym foundation, repair the track, replace three gym floors, replace lighting in the gyms and the Parkview Middle School library, and replace windows and doors at Parkview.
Also under consideration as part of a capital referendum is an estimated $10.8 million to build a multi-use indoor facility attached to the high school for school and community use next to the Performing Arts Center.
The two parts of a possible operational referendum, which would override the district’s revenue limit by $730,000 annually, are noted in the survey as well.
They include a possible increase in student mental wellness and behavioral support programs ($650,000) and the cost to operate additional air conditioning ($80,000).
The survey includes questions related to whether the respondents support the three categories listed in the base plan, building a multi-purpose facility and/or the two parts of the operational referendum with the possible responses being yes, no or not sure/need more information.
Questions listing the specific referendum amounts have five possible responses – definitely yes, probably yes, undecided, probably no and definitely no.
Respondents are asked whether they would support the base plan ($10.05 million), all the capital projects ($20.85 million) and/or the operational referendum ($730,000 for each of the next five years).
The survey states approval of the base plan would result in an estimated tax increase of $10 over the current level for each $100,000 of a home’s value, while approving all the capital projects would result in a tax increase of $70 over the current level.
To pay for a $730,000 operational referendum, the survey states that would cost an estimated $55 annually for each $100,000 of a home’s value.
Though the operational referendum would be for five years upon successful passage, Lucius said he would expect the district to hold a subsequent referendum to continue funding, possibly with the level of financial support being adjusted up or down.
The survey is also collecting demographic information of the respondents related to age, if they are district residents, if they are district employees, if they are a parent of a district student and the ages of their children 18 and younger.
Surveys are also available in Spanish by calling 920-492-2955, extension 5332, while extra paper copies of the survey may be obtained for households with more than one voting member by calling 920-492-2900.