District outlines project timeline following successful referendum vote

At a time when it’s a significant achievement to get more than 50 percent of a particular population to agree on anything, the School District of Rhinelander’s ad hoc capital projects committee is celebrating the successful passage of a referendum with two-thirds voting in favor of the district’s plan to add and renovate technical education facilities at James Williams Middle School and Rhinelander High School.

“I want to thank the community once again,” committee chair Mike Roberts said during the panel’s April 8 meeting. “Pretty amazing (how far) we’ve come from 12 years ago, how hard we had to push for that (operational referendum), and then to get a two-thirds majority in the passing of a $26 million referendum is really amazing.”

“I think it says something, that two-thirds, when essentially everything else in the world is split 50-50, so I think we’re on the right track,” he added.

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.

A review of the existing tech curriculum and facilities began in 2021. Study continued in 2022 as district officials met with local industry partners. These sessions were particularly helpful, according to district superintendent Eric 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 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 preliminary work, the school board directed that a community survey be held to gauge voter interest in potential renovations and upgrades.

In a series of 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.

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 things — have become increasingly popular with young people.

After over 75 percent of survey respondents said they would definitely or probably support a capital project/tech ed referendum, the board formulated and approved a referendum question to be placed on the April 2 ballot with a price tag of $26 million.

During the April 8 meeting, Burke explained that the district has already sent out a “request for qualifications” to construction management firms that “possess a deep understanding of K-12 educational pre-construction and construction.”

Responses were due by April 17 with the school board expected to choose a construction manager during its May 20 meeting. 

Construction is expected to begin next April with a completion target of August of 2026.

According to Burke, the majority of the work will take place during the two summers.

“We’re going to have to be creative and very flexible with spaces, but a lot of the major construction is going to happen during the two summer,” he explained.

Heather Schaefer may be reached at [email protected].