School District referendum goes to the voters
By Tracy Ouellette
Editor
The East Troy Community School District is bringing it facility needs referendum to the public in Tuesday’s Spring General Election. This is the fourth time the district has brought its facility needs to the community.
It’s been 18 years since the district has gone to referendum to improve its facilities, the last time was in 1997 for the High School renovations and the construction of Prairie View Elementary School.
“This referendum is critically important for the success of district and East Troy as a whole,” School Board President Ted Zess said Monday. “This isn’t just about the schools, it’s a community thing.”
The April 7 referendum differs from the previous three attempts, as this time around there are two questions.
The first asks for $22.5 million to build a new Pre-K through first-grade elementary school at the Prairie View campus ($12.3 to $14.4 million), renovate and add on to the High School ($7.5 million) and make modest improvements to the Middle School ($1.1 million), along with some money for a little work at Doubek Elementary ($295,000) so it can house administration.
The money for Doubek includes funds to demo part of the school if no other viable uses are found.
There has been some preliminary talk between Village of East Troy Board of Trustees President Randy Timms and Zess about the possibility of part of Doubek being purchased by the village to be used for a new library. Both Zess and Timms said the idea is very preliminary, but it is being looked at. With the library undergoing an needs assessment (see related story on the front page) with the hope of expanding services in the future, this option is being serious consideration.
There is money set aside for the possible demolition of Chester Byrnes ($225,000) if no buyer or better use becomes available.
There is also $1 million in the referendum for education furnishings, fixtures and equipment to update the learning spaces and enhance technology.
The district can borrow up to $22.5 million without an increase to property taxes because of the debt fall off from the Prairie View construction and High School improvements.
The second question asks the community to authorize an additional $2.2 million in borrowing to make the new elementary school a Pre-K through second-grade school to move the second graders out of Prairie View, which wasn’t designed to house kids younger than third grade. It would also help relive the over-crowding at Prairie View.
There will be a small tax increase if the second question is approved – about $24 a year on a $150,000 home.
District officials have touted the two-question referendum as a “20-year solution” to the facility needs.
District officials have been working hard to educate the public how the two questions work in relation to each other. The second question is contingent on the first question passing. Second-grade classrooms cannot be added on to a school that isn’t being built if the first question were to fail.
The questions must be answered independently of each other on Tuesday’s ballot.
Other area races include:
Town of Troy chairman
In the Town of Troy, incumbent Town Chairman John Kendall is facing former town chairman Allen Curler in Tuesday’s election.
Kendall has served on the Town Board since 1999, first as a supervisor for two terms and then four unconsecutive terms as chairman.
Curler served as chairman for 4 1/2 years after serving 2 1/2 years as a town supervisor. Curler lost his bid for election to the town chairman position by one vote in 2009.
School Board
Incumbent East Troy School Board member Martha Bresler is being challenged by newcomer Gina Dingman for the open School Board seat.
Bresler is a six-year veteran of the board and taught in the district for 34 years. She has campaigned on being the “voice of experience” the board needs.
Dingman is a local real estate agent who headed up the Yes 2 citizen’s committee in support of the district’s referendum. Dingman has campaigned on being a “new voice” with “fresh ideas.”
Town of Troy supervisor
There are four candidates vying the two open supervisor seats in the Town of Troy. Incumbent Kathleen Tober, Richard “Dick” Calland, Michael Jones and Jeffry Trapp are on Tuesday’s ballot in the township. See related story on Page 8.
Village of East Troy
In the Village of East Troy, Village Board President Randy Timms is running unopposed.
Up for re-election for village trustee are incumbents Chris Gultch, Fred Douglass and Dusty Stanford. Newcomer Scott Seager has also thrown his hat into the ring for village trustee, see related story on this page.
Circuit Court judge
The Walworth County Circuit Court Branch 3 judge seat is on the ballot. Kristine Drettwan, Elkhorn, and John Peterson, Walworth, have both thrown their hats into the ring for the seat.
Drettwan has served as the Branch 3 judge since last January when she was appointed by Gov. Scott Walker to fill the seat of former Walworth County Circuit Court Judge John Race after his retirement.
Peterson has served eight years as municipal court judge for the Village of Walworth.
Where to vote
Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. on April 7. Area municipalities voting for the School District referendum include:
*Town of Troy, N8870 Briggs St.;
Town of East Troy, N9330 Stewart School Road;
*Village of East Troy, 2015 Energy Dr.;
Town of LaFayette, W4614 Potter Road, Elkhorn;
Town of Spring Prairie, N6097 Highway 120, Burlington;
Town of Eagle, 820 E. Main St.;
Village of Mukwonago, 625 S Rochester St.; and
Town of LaGrange, N7899 Highway H.
* The Town of Troy and the Village of East Troy local races for the township or village boards.
