$38.6 million Oconomowoc schools project funding referendum passes

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Oconomowoc voters passed one of two school project referendums for the Oconomowoc Area School District, allowing $38.6 million in funding for improvements at Oconomowoc High and Ixonia Elementary Schools, the Wisconsin Department of Instruction (DPI) reported.

The first referendum passed with 55% of the vote, DPI data showed. A second referendum, which asked residents whether to approve $36.8 million for renovations to the high school, failed with more than 44% of the vote.

Plans for referendum one includes capital maintenance projects including HVAC systems and roof replacement for the High School and construction of a new classroom at the elementary school, DPI officials said. The project includes removal of modular classrooms and acquisition of new furnishings and fixtures. Crews will replace parts of the roof and the gym floor at Ixonia.

Project plans include replacing steam-based heating and cooling systems installed in 1965, the Oconomowoc Area School District (OASD) website said.

Referendum two planned to renovate the existing high school upper gym into new music classrooms and renovate existing music and art classrooms into art classrooms, according to the OASD website. The project would have added a café commons area near the art classrooms and expanded the main cafeteria serving area.

Other project amenities for referendum two include expansion of new cafeteria space and physical education spaces such as an auxiliary gym, locker rooms, a fitness room and a wrestling practice area, OASD officials said.

Space will continue to be an issue for the high school, but staff would still find ways to address those needs, OASD Superintendent Mike Sereno said.

“Our students and staff are grateful to our community for their support in addressing the infrastructure needs at OHS and the space constraints at Ixonia Elementary School. We will continue to have space constraints at our high school, and our team is committed to exploring all possible avenues to address those needs over the coming months,” Sereno said in a statement.

The school district will begin formal planning for the approved referendum project immediately with a request for proposal process for construction management, school officials said.