CAPITAL REFERENDUM: NOVEMBER 5, 2024
The Unified School District of Antigo is a point of pride in our community. Our elementary schools have served us well, yet they have reached the end of their intended life and are facing significant challenges to their facilities and infrastructure. Our middle and high schools have a number of pressing facility needs that impact student learning.
To address these issues, the Unified School District of Antigo Board of Education has placed a capital referendum question on the ballot for Tuesday, November 5, 2024. If voters approve the referendum, the district will use the $54 million in additional funding to build a new elementary school and address urgent capital needs at the middle and high schools.
OUR NEEDS
All three elementary schools have significant facility needs that would require extensive renovations and repairs. The current elementary school buildings are more than 60 years old and have been used far beyond their intended life spans.
Some of the most pressing facility needs at our elementary schools include:
- Water damage and infiltration
- Presence of asbestos, posing a health concern for students and staff
- Safety concerns, including lack of secure entrances and lack of fire sprinkler protection systems
- Need for additional classroom space to provide the highest quality education
- Schools are not accessible for students and community members with disabilities
In addition to the infrastructure and facility concerns, there is a lack of adequate space for modern student learning. Currently, our schools do not have space for art and music classes, libraries, specialized student services, or teacher meetings.
At the middle and high schools, the two schools have a combined $8 million in urgent capital maintenance needs. These needs primarily address health and safety issues and do not address any other needs to make the schools up-to-date learning environments.
PROPOSED SOLUTION
On Tuesday, November 5, our community will vote on a proposed solution to address the significant needs in our schools. The capital referendum asks for voter approval to issue general obligation bonds in the amount of $54 million to use on capital projects.
If approved, the district would use the funds to:
- Build one brand-new elementary school building to replace the existing three school buildings
- Address the most urgent facility needs at the middle school and high school
- Relocate the central office staff to an existing district facility, helping to reduce annual operating costs
The property tax impact of an approved referendum would be $1.00 per $1,000 of assessed property value. The owner of a home assessed at $100,000, for example, would see a property tax impact of $100 per year.
How did we decide on this solution?
In 2023, the district established a Facilities Task Force to explore, evaluate, and develop potential solutions to these needs.
Learn more about the Facilities Task Force
Questions?
Do you have any questions about the proposed referendum? Submit your questions at the link below, and someone from the district will reach out with an answer as soon as possible.
Click here to submit your questions
Frequently Asked Questions
