Voters have their say on school district building referendums

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Voters across Wisconsin handed builders and other trades a mixed bag of results during Tuesday’s election, as school districts across the state held referendums to finance construction and improvement projects.

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The following are referendum results:

• High School and Middle School Additions/Improvements, Franklin • High School Addition, Remodel Classrooms, Technology Upgrades, School Maintenance, Security Enhancements, Horicon • Construct New Elementary School Replacing Prospect Elementary, site at Birch and Pine Streets, Lake Mills • Renovation Projects in Palmyra-Eagle School District, Palmyra and Eagle • Improvement Projects at Reek Elementary School, W4094 S. Lakeshore Drive, Lake Geneva • Construction of New Elementary School, Antigo • Renovation and Improvement of Facilities for the Western Technical College, La Crosse • School District Repair and Improvement Projects including Technology, Marshall • Improvements to School District Buildings including Technology, Cambridge School District, Cambridge • New Athletic Complex and Pool, District Building Additions and Renovations, and Technology Upgrades, Pulaski Community School District, Pulaski • Improvements to the Winneconne Elementary School, Winneconne Community School District, 233 S. Third Ave., Winneconne • Expansion and Remodeling Projects for Kromrey Middle School and Glacier Creek Middle School, Middleton & Cross Plains • Construction of New Elementary School for the La Crosse School District, 1611 Kane St., La Crosse

• In Antigo, voters denied two School District referendums, both by wide margins. One of the referendums asked for money for a new elementary school. It was defeated by 5,062 to 3,570.

Even though the referendum failed, the district still plans to merge some schools, according to Steven Smolek, Antigo’s district administrator.

“The board has committed to closing the four rural schools,” Smolek said, “and consolidating the three elementary schools in the city.”

• In the Kiel Area School District in Manitowoc County,  voters approved general obligation bonds, capped at $6.5 million, for improvements to district buildings and grounds by a 2,520 to 2,030 margin. Voters struck down permission for the district to exceed the state spending cap by $400,000 a year for seven years to pay for annual maintenance and upgrades.

•  Voters approved construction of a new elementary school for the La Crosse School District by a wide 21,745 to 10,627 tally.

• Voters passed Western Technical College in La Crosse County’s referendum that asked to raise $79.8 million in bonds and promissory notes. The measure is part of the college’s master facilities plan to construct new buildings, remodel existing parts of its campus and buy equipment and furnishings. The tally was 63,611 in favor of the referendum; 54,231 against.

• Taxpayers in the Palmyra-Eagle School District in Jefferson County voted down permission for the district to borrow $6.4 million for maintenance and repairs.

• In Franklin, two building referendums passed and one failed. Voters approved $48.8 million for improvements to Franklin High School and Forest Park Middle School. Projects at the high school include adding parking stalls, a new auditorium and more classroom space. Middle school work would entail converting the gym to classroom space, building a new gym and expanding the cafeteria.

• The Edgerton School District in Rock County received permission to issue no more than $6.3 million in general obligation bonds to replace roofs and windows, improve parking lots and upgrade technology.

• The third time was the charm for the Linn Joint 6 School District. A referendum asking for building maintenance and upgrades, such as new windows and masonry work on exterior walls, passed by a 337 to 264 tally.

• Voters in the Marshall School District in Dane County passed a referendum (1,497 to 1,349) for permission to exceed the state revenue limit by $500,000 through 2016 for repairs, maintenance, improvement projects and to upgrade technology.

• Taxpayers in the Fall River School District in Columbia County denied the district authorization to issue no more than $1.35 million in general obligation bonds to build a new athletic facility. The referendum failed by a 797 to 691 tally.

• The Tomorrow River School District in Waupaca County received consent from voters to issue no more than $8.5 million in general obligation bonds to build and furnish a production kitchen and cafeteria, build additional classrooms, renovate the middle school locker room and make various site improvements. The referendum passed by a 1,821 to 1,034 margin.

• Voters in the Cadott Community School District in Chippewa County gave the district permission to issue $9.5 million in general obligation bonds to remodel and add on to Cadott Elementary School, and to buy equipment. The measure passed by a 1,275 to 965 tally.

• In Lake Mills, voters approved $18.7 million for a new elementary school. The narrow vote passed, 2,634 to 2,550.

• The Horicon School Board in Dodge County will get $2.8 million to finance additions, remodeling and upgrades to the district’s high school. Voters approved the referendum 1,910 to 1,269.

• Taxpayers in the East Troy Community School District in Walworth County struck down (3,545 to 3,133) the district’s request for $17.2 million for various construction and renovation projects.

• The Pulaski Community School District in Brown County failed in its attempt to issue general obligation bonds for district-wide building and improvement projects. The referendum was voted down, 6,625 to 3,907.

• The Luck School District in Polk County received permission to issue no more than $1.2 million in general obligation bonds for school improvement and construction projects. Work includes plumbing, electrical and HVAC, roofing and building additions. The referendum passed by a wide margin, 1,234 to 538.

• Voters passed referendums in the Cambridge School District in Dane County that will allow it permission to exceed the state revenue cap by $5.05 million through the 2016-17 school year for building additions, school roof repairs, heating and cooling equipment replacement, and technology.

• The Winneconne Community School District in Winnebago County received approval from voters for general obligation bonds of no more than $4.7 million for improvements to the elementary school. Proposed projects include structural and roofing improvements, HVAC work and plumbing. The margin passed by a 3,234 to 1,836 tally.

• Taxpayers in the Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District in Dane County approved no more than $59.8 million in general obligation bonds for expansion and remodeling projects and new equipment at two middle schools.

The Daily Reporter intern Jonathan Anderson also contributed to this report.