School board OKs referendum question

Come spring, School District of Rhinelander voters will be asked to authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $26 million for the purpose improving technical education facilities at James Williams Middle School and Rhinelander High School.

The district’s board of education voted unanimously Monday to put the question of funding for its proposed tech ed improvement project to the voters in the form of a referendum to coincide with the state’s presidential preference primary on April 2, 2024.

The question to appear on the ballot is as follows: “Shall the School District of Rhinelander, Oneida, Lincoln, and Langlade Counties, Wisconsin be authorized to issue, pursuant to Chapter 67 of the Wisconsin Statutes, general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $26,000,000 for the public purpose of paying the cost of a school building and facility improvement project consisting of: construction of additions and renovations at Rhinelander High School, including for technical education, classrooms and labs; construction of additions, renovations, safety, security and site improvements at James Williams Middle School, including for technical education and classrooms; district-wide capital maintenance, infrastructure improvements and accessibility updates; and acquisition of furnishings, fixtures and equipment?”

The vote came a month after the board members heard a presentation on the results of a community survey designed to gauge support for the capital improvement project. A decision on whether to go to referendum had to be made by January to ensure enough time to get the referendum question on the spring ballot.

According to School Perceptions, the firm that facilitated the survey, more than 70 percent of those who responded indicated they would support the referendum.

On Monday, Clint Selle of Bray Architects reviewed the survey results  with the board members. He concurred with School Perceptions that the survey indicates there is community support for the project.

According to Bob Thome, the district’s director of business services, the $26 million project would translate to an extra $29 of property taxes on a $100,000 home.

District superintendent Eric Burke also clarified that the $500,000 donated pledged by Dr. Lee Swank, announced earlier this year, is aimed at the purchase of equipment for students to use while participating in tech ed. The district is also pursuing grants related to the acquisition of equipment, he noted.

In addition to the survey, members of the community also had an opportunity to tour the two schools as part of a pair of open houses held earlier this fall. 

According to handout distributed at the first open house, the Rhinelander High School portion of the project would:

• Create a dedicated space for home construction classes

• Add autos/small engine/marine shop course

• Relocate and expand the woodshop

• Renovate metal/welding/manufacturing shop

• Create a fab lab and robotics area

• Renovate existing science labs and 1958 restrooms

At James Williams Middle School the project would:

• Add tech ed classrooms

• Relocate and update existing tech ed and art classrooms

• Relocate and update the choir classroom

• Relocate and update family and consumer education classrooms

• Add special education classrooms

• Renovate existing offices/improve building security

• Improve bus pick-up and drop-off traffic flow

“Technical education courses allow students to design and create wood, metal and plastic products, learn to weld, fix cars, marine repair, and build houses,” the handout said.

Many of the existing classrooms and labs in both building haven’t been updated for decades (1958 and 1974 respectively) and students are increasingly interested in jobs in the technical sphere, district officials have noted.

Student interest in tech courses has nearly doubled in the past two years, the open house attendees were told.

It was explained that all seventh-grade students are required to take a technical education course so that they have some exposure to potential careers in this sphere, but many are interested in delving further into topics like welding, home construction and robotics.

“Taking on a project like this is really not only just about the physical facilities, it’s about supporting our community as a whole, supporting our students and community members, giving them opportunities they might not have had,” noted the district’s director of curriculum Ryan Ourada. 

If the referendum passes, work on the improvements and additions would begin in the spring of 2025.

Heather Schaefer may be reached at [email protected].