South Shore School District Adopts $14.75M Facilities Referendum for November Ballot

[Port Wing, WI]— On August 21, the South Shore School District Board unanimously adopted a resolution that will allow district residents to vote on a $14.75 million facilities referendum this November. The comprehensive plan is designed to ensure that our school continues to offer high-quality education in a safe and efficient setting, supporting both current students and future generations by addressing critical capital maintenance needs, enhancing safety and accessibility, and providing an updated learning environment for our students.

Built in 1977, the building has served our community well for nearly five decades. In 1990, the elementary school was added to the building; however, outside of the elementary addition, there has not been a major investment in the building, leaving much of the 1977 structure original.

Recognizing these growing challenges, the district embarked on a multi-year process, working with a community Focus Group to prioritize building needs and provide feedback on solutions. Additionally, more than 300 residents participated in a district-wide survey, offering invaluable feedback on how to move forward. This feedback was essential in creating community-driven solutions.

Survey results revealed strong community support for addressing the most pressing needs. In fact, 57% of non-parent, non-staff respondents indicated support for a referendum to address facility needs. The top priorities identified by the community included upgrading building systems, improving accessibility, and enhancing safety and security throughout the district.

If approved by voters, the $14.75 million referendum will fund several key projects, including updates and replacement of critical building systems such as heating, ventilation, and plumbing. The construction of a secure entrance, the expansion of classroom spaces and the fitness center, and renovations to improve ADA compliance in restrooms and other areas are also planned. These updates will ensure that the district’s schools are safe, efficient, and supportive of today’s teaching and learning environments. The referendum will also allow the district to reorganize learning spaces to better align with current educational practices. By creating flexible, collaborative environments for small group instruction and individualized learning, the District aims to foster a more cohesive and supportive learning experience for all students.

In the last 30 years, the District has not asked a capital referendum question to fund facilities improvements, therefore the District is debt free; meaning any investment will raise the mill rate or taxes. Therefore, the Board of Education has committed $3 million of fund balance (district savings) to offset the project cost to taxpayers, making the total project cost; $17.75 million.

With the resolution now in place, the district is set to embark on an information campaign leading up to the November vote. Information will be shared through Facebook, district-wide newsletters, referendum mailers, a series of public information nights and much more. The goal is to ensure that every resident is well-informed about the scope of the project, the needs, and the proposed solution.

For more information, please contact the District Office of the South Shore School District at 715-774-3500, visit our website, or email questions to referendum2024@sshore.k12.wi.us.