Boyceville Community School Board discusses referendum projects
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By Renee Bettendorf
BOYCEVILLE — At a special meeting held on January 3, the Boyceville School Board voted to ask voters during the upcoming April 2 election if the district should authorize general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $18 million.
If district voters vote in favor of the referendum, the funds would go towards a district-wide school facility improvement project. The project would include maintenance, upgrades and remodeling to the elementary and middle/high schools as well as the bus garage.
“It hits all the targets we’re looking for,” said District Administrator, Nick Kaiser, of the referendum.
According to a district facility needs assessment that was completed last year, the biggest expense of the project would take place at the middle/high school with $11.8 million in estimated costs. At the elementary school about $5.2 million would be needed to cover the proposed improvements.
“You don’t have anything very flashy, it’s mostly just maintenance,” said Luke Schultz, Associate Director of Facilities Management Services for CESA 10, of the proposed project.
The proposed project would include many remodeling, maintenance and improvement projects at all three schools. Remodeling would occur in the science and career/technical education areas at the high/middle school as well as creating secure entrances for both school buildings.
Partial roof replacement, window, door, generator and flooring replacement and parking lot, restroom and exterior improvements including tuck pointing and cement fixes would occur at both buildings if the referendum passes.
Also included would be updates to gyms, the athletic field, technology, locker rooms, student lockers, kitchens and an elevator. As well as upgrades to HVAC, lighting, the bell/notification system and fire alarm infrastructure.
According to the district facility needs assessment, about $990,000 of referendum funds would go towards the bus garage for three new buses and a van as well as shop updates and a new lift and shelter tops.
As a CESA (cooperative education service agency) employee in the facilities management department, Schultz’s job is to help school districts define the scope and budget of a referendum and then help with marketing it. He updated the board on getting the word out about the referendum. He said communicating with the community will be important.
“We want to help answer any questions in your community,” he said.
Schultz said informational videos about the referendum will be released on the school website and facebook page over the next few months. In February a community newsletter will go out with information on the scope of the project.
Fliers are being designed and a staff meeting about the referendum is set for later this month. Two community meetings will also be held, one in February and one in March where district residents can tour the schools and see where the projects would take place, according to Schultz.
The last time the district held a facility referendum was in 2008. The district has refinanced debt from that referendum and is ahead on paying back the amount. As a result, debt payments for the district will be reduced this year making it possible to spend any new referendum money without increasing the portion of the school mill rate for referendum approved debt payments, according to the district web page.
