GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Residents of the Green Bay Area Public School District could be asked to approve a $92.6 million referendum to pay for maintenance projects and upgrades across the district.
The school board will review the administration’s proposal Monday but no formal action is expected. If eventually approved, the item is expected to be on the November general election ballot.
According to documents obtained by FOX 11, the largest share of the money would be spent on projects at the middle and high schools, at $48,030,000. Another $43,370,000 would be spent on district-wide upgrades, while $1.2 million would be spent on playgrounds.
The district has not released costs associated with any particular project, nor the possible impact on the tax levy, but addressed the net effect of the cost in this way on a survey released earlier this year:
“The District’s strong fiscal management has placed it in a position where the 2017 referendum will be paid off this year, allowing the District to once again make needed renovations and improvements to the facilities with no tax impact to residents, with voter approval,” the survey states. (Bolded words in the original document.)
The current tax mill rate of $9.03 per thousand would remain steady or could drop, dependent on several factors, the district has said.
The school board could approve or reject any part of the proposal, but the current list of secondary school projects includes:
- At East High: Physical education/athletic area improvements, stormwater replacement, auditorium upgrades, and fire alarm system replacement
- At Preble High: Auditorium upgrades, commons expansion, physical education/athletic area improvements, main parking lot asphalt replacement
- At Southwest High: Physical education/athletic area improvements, auditorium sound system
- At West High: Auditorium upgrades, physical education/athletic area improvements
- At Edison Middle: Auditorium upgrades, repave track and long jump
- At Franklin Middle: Auditorium upgrades, gym upgrades
- At Lombardi Middle: FACE lab (cabinetry and appliances), physical education/athletic area improvements
- At Washington Middle: Orchestra room upgrades
Previously, the district has said the athletics improvements at Preble and West could include installation of turf football/soccer fields. The handout for Monday’s meeting does not specifically mention that, but the district confirms those are included in the proposal. East and Southwest already have turf fields.
In terms of the district-wide improvements, the projects could include:
- Energy efficiency and conservation projects, including LED lighting, window replacement, and HVAC upgrades
- Furniture
- Ceiling tire and flooring replacement
- Roof replacement at five schools
The district also wants to replace playgrounds at four schools — Aldo Leopold, Baird, Jackson, and Kennedy — and install ADA playground equipment at Danz and Sullivan parks.
Earlier this spring, the district did a survey about the potential referendum, with results showing general support, including 82% saying the strongly agree or agree they would support a referendum to address deferred and delayed maintenance needs.
