Voters approve tech ed referendum

James Williams Middle School and Rhinelander High School students will soon enjoy the benefit of updated technical education facilities thanks to a resounding vote Tuesday in favor of a $26 million referendum to fund renovations to both school buildings.

According to the unofficial results compiled by the School District of Rhinelander, the referendum passed on a vote of 3,637 to 1,864 — supported by more than 66% of voters.

In a written statement addressed to “members of the School District of Rhinelander community” and shared with local media, district superintendent Eric Burke offered thanks for the continued support.

“I am writing to extend my heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you for your invaluable feedback, ideas and support regarding the recent successful capital project referendum,” he wrote. “Your dedication to the betterment of our school district and community is truly commendable, and we are deeply appreciative of your involvement throughout this process.” 

“I would like to express a special thank you to our school staff for their involvement in our partnership and community meetings as well as their involvement in developing a vision for this project,” Burke continued. “Your passion for education and commitment to our students is truly inspiring, and it is through your efforts that we continue to strive for excellence in all that we do. Additionally, I would like to extend our gratitude to all of our employer partners for their support and collaboration. Your partnership is instrumental in preparing our students for future success, and we are grateful for the opportunities you provide for our students as you work with them in our classrooms as well as in your places of employment. As we look forward to the future, the School District of Rhinelander is excited to embark on the planning process for the upcoming project, which is set to begin construction in the spring of 2025. With your continued support and involvement, we are confident that we will create something truly special with a learning environment that fosters growth, innovation, and success for all of our students. Once again, thank you for your unwavering support and dedication to our school district and community. Together, we will continue to make a positive impact on the lives of our students and the future of our community.”

In the run-up to the election, district officials framed the tech ed project as critical to properly train the next generation of workers and ensure all students learn necessary lifelong skills.

According to information distributed at a series of informational meetings on the referendum, a review of the tech ed curriculum and activities began in 2021. Study continued in 2022 with meetings held with local industry partners. These sessions were particularly helpful, according to Burke, because it allowed for educators to speak directly with industry leaders about the skills they are looking for in their new hires.

Then there were a series of tours of other schools so Rhinelander officials could see how other districts are delivering technical education to their students and what might work locally.

In September 2023, after nearly two years of study, the school board directed that a community survey be conducted to gauge voter interest in potential renovations and upgrades.

After over 75 percent of respondents said they would definitely or probably support a capital project/tech ed referendum, the board formulated and approved the following language for the referendum question: “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?”

During the informational meetings, school officials stressed that the district’s current facilities are quite old — dating back to 1974 in the case of James Williams Middle School and the late 1950s in the case of Rhinelander High School — and much of the equipment is more than 60 years old and no longer used by local industry/business partners.

Also, tech ed classes — where students learned a wide variety of skills such as how to design and manufacture wood, metal and plastic products, auto and small engine repair, the ins and outs of circuits, home construction, and many other things — have become increasingly popular with young people.

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 and learn important lifelong skills like problem-solving, but many are interested in delving further into more advanced topics.

The district’s industry partners also noted that foundational skills — problem-solving and collaboration being very high on the list — are pivotal to success in real-world industry jobs as workers who can collaborate and know how to approach and resolve problems can be trained to operate nearly any type of equipment

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

Heather Schaefer may be reached at [email protected].