Waterford Union High School Board Approves Referendum Question for April 4 Ballot
Our High School. Our Community.
At the January 16 special meeting, the Waterford Union High School’s (WUHS) Board of Education approved a facility referendum question that will appear on the April 4, 2023 ballot.
“WUHS’s School Board is responsible for maintaining our facilities to provide the best educational experience for our students. After reviewing our comprehensive facilities audit and hearing more from our constituents and communities’ (through various surveys), we believe this solution ensures our facilities will support staff and students well into the future while protecting our District’s assets,” said Michael Schoenfeld, Board President.
Over the past year, the District surveyed the community to help determine how to proceed, with the most recent survey conducted last fall. Key findings indicated over 70% of our community supports a property tax increase to address priority building infrastructure, STEM spaces, safety/security, ADA, and special education needs. Additionally, nearly 60% supported outdoor field improvements. The school board’s unanimous vote follows a similar referendum the board proposed last Spring.
The proposed $24.5 million referendum addresses prioritized building and site infrastructure and educational needs throughout the high school. The key areas of focus include:
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Repair or replace building systems at the end of useful life.
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Address interior and exterior locations to be compliant with current codes and laws.
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Remodel the former elementary building area inside the high school and renovate locations built between 1950 and 1960 to meet or exceed educational standards.
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Improve safety and security priorities and address Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility.
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Rebuild soccer and softball fields to avoid continuous flooding, expand parking to include adjacent ADA spots, and replace portable toilets with restrooms.
While many priorities from the last referendum remained the same – the few adjustments made resulted from feedback from the community surveys.
“The district is committed to implementing Waterford Union’s ten-year facility improvement plan. Although we maintain and fix what we can through our operating budget, the needs of an aging building are insurmountable given our fixed budget, and the challenges are not going away. Delaying projects costs the district more and jeopardizes the quality of educational services we provide to our students and families,” said Dr. Luke Francois, Superintendent.
The district is committed to providing additional information in various ways, including our website, social media, mailings, and informational meetings. Watch for more details in the coming weeks. Contact Dr. Lucas Francois, Superintendent, at lfrancois@waterforduhs.k12.wi.