District Referendum

Our Needs

The Comprehensive Facility Study

The District worked with ATSR architects to review the condition of our facilities. Some of our biggest challenges are at the high school, including:

• There is not enough space to meet student interest in science and business education.
• Many classrooms are too small to support both small- and large-group instruction. 
• The school lacks an auditorium or other space for large school and community events.
• The cafeteria is too small to serve all of our students. Meals are served over several periods, which reduces time available for academic uses and complicates students’ schedules. 
• The parking lot does not appropriately separate vehicle and pedestrian traffic.
• The main entrance is not near the parking lot, making it difficult to properly monitor and control visitor access.

To see a summary of the critical repairs and access the complete facility study, click this link to view our document.

The Solution

A Long Range Facility Improvement Plan

The District created a long-range plan to address facility needs on the main campus. Addressing needs in phases gives the community a voice in prioritizing repairs and improvements and limits the financial impact on local taxpayers by completing the projects in phases over time. The phases include (in no particular order):

• Critical mechanical and building repair and betterment needs.
• An addition to include a science and business education wing, additional restrooms, parking lot expansion, security update, and a locker room at Oakleaf Stadium. 
• An addition of an auditorium for school and community use, additional restrooms, additional parking, remodel of current music rooms.
• An addition of a gym and fitness center for school and community use, additional restrooms, additional parking.

A visual of the long-range plan in it's phases can be found here.

The Direction

Community Input on Projects and Priorities

In October of 2025, the Board of Education surveyed the community to determine if there is community support to pursue a facility referendum and, if so, what types of projects they would support. The survey outcomes concluded:

• The community supports renovating the existing campus over building a new high school.
• There is support for a referendum of $15.6 million to complete critical repairs on the main campus. These critical repairs would include interior and exterior repairs and the replacement of mechanical equipment and fixtures.
• There is not support for a referendum beyond $15.6 million at this time.

A report on the survey results can be found here.

The Scope

• This referendum focuses on critical repair and betterment needs—not new programs or expansion.
• The work addresses aging systems and infrastructure that students and staff rely on every day.
• Making these repairs now is more cost-effective than waiting, when failures become emergencies and costs rise.
• These investments protect community-owned facilities, support safe learning environments, and reflect responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars.
• The total project cost, inflated to April 2027, is $15,613,768.

Mechanical / Plumbing / Energy Management / HVAC $10,265,617

Why this work is needed:

• Many mechanical and HVAC systems are far beyond their expected lifespan.
• Aging systems are less reliable, harder to repair, and increasingly expensive to maintain. Due to the age of our equipment, we are struggling to get parts when repairs are needed. 
• Failures are becoming more frequent and directly impact air quality, temperature control, and water / plumbing services, disrupting learning and operations.

Benefits of addressing now:

• Proactively replacing systems prevents emergency breakdowns that are more costly and disruptive.
• Modern systems are more energy-efficient, helping control long-term operating costs.
• Updated controls allow the district to better monitor and manage energy use, improving reliability and sustainability.

Bottom line:

• This is the largest portion of the project because these systems are essential to keeping buildings open, safe, and functional every day.

Building Envelope, Roofs, Site Items, Exterior Doors & Windows $2,723,433

Why this work is needed:

• Roofs, windows, doors, and exterior components protect buildings from water intrusion, weather damage, and heat loss.
• Deferred maintenance in these areas results in leaks, which can lead to interior damage, and high repair costs.

Benefits of addressing now:

• Addressing exterior issues prevents damage to classrooms, ceilings, flooring, and equipment.
• Newer windows and doors improve energy efficiency, safety, and security.
• Proper site drainage and exterior repairs reduce long-term structural risks.
   

Bottom line:

• This work protects the entire building investment by stopping problems before they spread inside.

Electrical / Lighting / Power / Data / Cabling $1,687,875

Why this work is needed:

• Electrical systems support everything from lighting and safety systems to instructional technology.
• Aging infrastructure is not compatible with current and future instructional and operational needs.

Benefits of addressing now:

• Upgrades improve reliability, safety, and efficiency.
• Modern lighting reduces maintenance and energy costs.
• Updated cabling supports current and future instructional and operational needs.

Bottom line:

• Reliable electrical and data systems are no longer optional—they are foundational to how schools operate today

Building Interior Repairs (Floors, Ceilings, Interior Doors, Cabinetry) $936,843

Why this work is needed:

• Interior finishes wear down over time due to daily use by students and staff. Some doors are no longer functioning as they should. 
• Some repairs are the result of underlying issues like leaks or aging systems.

Benefits of addressing now:

• Addressing interior repairs ensures buildings are safe, accessible, and functional.
• Repairs improve learning environments while preventing minor issues from becoming major problems.

Bottom line:

• These repairs restore and preserve spaces students and staff use every day.

Fiscal Responsibility & Inflation Planning

• Taking a comprehensive approach to completing these repair and replacement projects allows work to be done more efficiently and cost-effectively.
• The district will work with an independent project manager and an independent architect who will partner for checks and balances and who will cost out each good and service to ensure quality investments and to stretch every tax dollar to the fullest. 

At the End of the Day

• This referendum is about taking care of what our community already owns.
• It ensures schools remain safe, reliable, and ready to serve students—today and into the future.
• Investing now helps avoid greater costs later and demonstrates responsible long-term planning.

The Cost

Property Tax Impact

If passed, the referendum project will cost taxpayers $0.72 per $1000 of fair market property value. This increase would be in place for the life of the loan, 20 years maximum.

How much would the referendum increase MY property taxes? Click this link to find out!

The Ballot

The Vote

April 7th

Questions?

Check out some of these Questions and Answers

Q: Why are these repairs needed now?

A: Many systems in the main campus are decades old and experiencing increasing failures, inefficiencies, and maintenance costs. In some cases, replacement parts are difficult to find or parts are not available at all. Addressing these needs now helps prevent emergency repairs, disruptions to learning, higher long-term costs from deferred maintenance.
 

Q: What happens if the referendum does not pass?

A: If the referendum does not pass:

• Critical repairs would be delayed or addressed only through temporary fixes
• Emergency repairs could become more frequent and more expensive
• More funds will need to be budgeted for repairs and replacements, reducing funds available for educational programming

Q: Does this referendum include new classrooms or additions?

A: No. This referendum is strictly for repairs and replacements of existing systems. It does not add new space or expand the campus footprint.
 

Q: How was the $15.6 million amount determined?

A: The total reflects the cost of the most critical needs identified in the 2021 external comprehensive facility audit. The total cost reflects: facility assessments and professional evaluations, projected construction and material costs, inflation factors through the expected construction period. The goal is to complete the necessary work in a single, coordinated project rather than through piecemeal fixes that will only increase in cost as time goes on.
 

Q: How will the district ensure the funds are used responsibly?

A: The district will use professional project management and competitive bidding to ensure that we are both using reliable goods and services and that we are doing so in a manner that maximizes referendum dollars.
 

Q: Will construction disrupt students and staff?

A: The district will plan work carefully to minimize disruption during the school year, schedule major projects during summer or school breaks when possible, and maintain safe learning environments at all times. 

Q: How long would the improvements last?

A: Most of the systems and repairs funded by this referendum are expected to last 20–40 years, depending on the component. This investment is designed to provide long-term stability for the campus. The district is using the facility audit to maintain a replacement cycle for key systems and equipment. 

Q: If Phase 1 passes, when will we start Phase 2?

A: District administration works with a financial planner who will help identify a timeline that would minimize the tax impact of another phase. Just like this time, before going to referendum again in the future, the Board will survey the community to determine which project they would support in a possible Phase 2, and what tax impact they would support to complete the project.

Have a question we didn't answer? Please email us at referendum@altoona.k12.wi.us!