Voters to decide on $19 million referendum for East Troy schools

By Vanessa Lenz

SLN Staff

After more than two months of highly visible campaigns from both supporters and non-supporters, the East Troy Community School District referendum will be put before voters on April 2.

At stake are a number of facility improvements throughout the district that the school board says are needed in the immediate future.

The referendum question will ask voters to approve $19 million to improve safety and security at all school buildings, upgrade science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) classrooms at East Troy High School and renovate the traditional technical education rooms and kitchen and cafeteria at ETHS among other improvements.

Plans also include the construction of a 32,000-square-foot community auditorium and band room addition at the high school for $10.34 million.

The district has worked for the past three months to solidify referendum plans after a majority of voters voted against a Nov. 6 referendum for $17.2 million in facility upgrades by a 412-vote margin.

All items included in the original referendum are incorporated into the revised plan except for $500,000 earmarked for athletic capital improvements.

The biggest change to the new question was the addition of $1.35 million in basic maintenance at Doubek Elementary School, including fixing HVAC and electrical issues to keep the building operational in the short-term future. This may also include the use of plumbing companies akin to metrovancouverplumbing.ca who offer Plumber vancouver services, however, this would be given to local companies to help out where possible.

While Doubek currently houses pre-K-first grade students, the board has indicated its desire to eventually move the district’s administration offices to the Beulah Avenue location.

The board also added construction of a bus drop off loop at Prairie View to deal with traffic congestion.

“It’s very important we focus on the fact that this referendum not only involves the district, but the community at large. We will help East Troy to become the ‘community of choice’ as well. In addition to school uses, this referendum addresses community interests as well; such as community plays, concerts, business meetings, etc.,” said board president Brian Wexler.

The board said the proposed renovations would fulfill the first phase of the district’s $41 million Facilities Master Plan, developed by its 28-member ad-hoc Facilities Advisory Committee this summer.
The committee, which was tasked with prioritizing the district’s laundry list of facilities upgrades, initially recommended the board pursue one question for a referendum of about $25.6 million for nine upgrades throughout the district, including the conversion of Prairie View Elementary School into a pre-K-5 building.

Citing the steep price tag, the board opted to put its focus on the immediate needs at the high school during the first phase.

“The board views the high school and middle school as one campus so the STEM lab and the auditorium will be heavily used by both. We also view the auditorium as a K-12 classroom available to all students in the community, parochial or public,” said board member Mike Zei of the decision. “Finally with this plan, the high school will be complete and a showcase for our community for many years to come.”

“We focused on the language we did in order to enhance not only the educational growth of our children, but also the cultural and vibrant growth of our community. The referendum as stated will bring many years of quality community involvement to all the municipalities that comprise the East Troy Community School District,” Wexler said.

On the campaign trail

Members of the school board have said their first referendum effort failed in November due to lack of awareness in the community.

This time around, campaigns from supporters of both sides of the issue have been much louder touting the benefits or drawbacks of the proposed referendum with flyers, yard signs and newspaper ads.

Representatives from the district have been making the rounds at meetings of local government, clubs and organizations and utilizing mailers and social media to help spread the word. The Yes For East Troy group, (www.yesforeasttroy.org), was formed to convince voters to support the referendum.

Both sides have blanketed the opinion forum in local papers with letters to the editor, as well as voiced their thoughts on Facebook. (View letters under the opinion tab.)

The most controversial part of the referendum to date has been the auditorium.

The majority of those opposing the referendum say the referendum dollars should go to other areas of the district such as facility upgrades at all the elementary school levels.

The impact

The cost of the proposed renovations would have a debt service tax levy increase of roughly $30 on a home valued at $150,000, according to district business manager Kathy Zwirgzdas. She said the impact has been lessened by the district’s ability to make additional debt payments in 2011 and 2012.

“The board decided that now is the time to address the needs identified in the Master Plan, taking into account that interest rates and construction costs are at all-time lows. Additionally, the district was able to financially plan for a $15 million debt referendum amortized over 20 years at a $0 tax impact,” according to a district press release.

With the potential interest rate predicted to be between 3 and 5 percent, the district could save anywhere from $1 million to $5.9 million depending on the final interest rate received, District Administrator Dr. Christopher Hibner said.

“While there is never a great time to ask community members for money, the current low costs of construction and the critical needs facing our district mean that this solution has gained the unanimous support of board

members,” said Wexler.

For more information, visit www.easttroy.k12.wi.us.

Referendum at a glance

• Prairie View pick up and drop off/ security, $252,000
• Security at ETMS and ETHS, $105,000
• Auditorium, $9,240,000
• Additional 100 seats, $290,000
• Band Pit, $270,000
• Modified Fly, $630,000
• High School Band/ English classrooms, $1,575,000
• STEM addition, $1,327,000
• High School administration addition, $505,250
• High School windows $29,820
• High School front entrance $128,625
• Renovation of classrooms – Social Studies and Math wing, $748,125.00
• Toilet rooms – $157,500
• Cafeteria addition/ kitchen area remodeled, $792,487
• Tech Ed, $1,483,125
• Doubek HVAC, electrical and plumbing updates, $1,350,000

The question:

East Troy Community School District residents will be asked to vote Tuesday on the following referendum question:

“Shall the East Troy Community School District, Walworth and Waukesha counties, Wisconsin be authorized to issue, pursuant to Chapter 67 of the Wisconsin Statutes, general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $19 million for the public purpose of safety and security improvements at district buildings; constructing auditorium, classroom, and kitchen/cafeteria/office additions; remodeling, renovation and improvement projects at the high school; repair, maintenance and improvement projects at Leona Doubek Elementary School; and acquiring furnishings, fixtures, and equipment?”