Green Bay School Board OKs $92.6 million school building referendum for voter approval in November. Here's what it would pay for.
GREEN BAY — The Green Bay School Board unanimously agreed Monday night to ask voters to approve a $92.6 million school improvement referendum in November.
About $43 million of the referendum funding would go towards addressing district-wide deferred maintenance while $48 million would be spent on middle school and high school facility improvements. Elementary playground upgrades will cost an additional $1.2 million.
At many schools, LED lighting and emergency generators will be installed along with the replacement of furniture, ceiling tiles and flooring.
"Our buildings are historic which means that they periodically need upkeep, and we have lots of buildings," Patchak said.
A referendum for buildng expenses is like taking out a home equity loan, allowing the district to take on facility maintenance and improvement projects it normally wouldn't have the funds for, Chief Operating Officer Joshua Patchak said.
The amount of money that districts can raise via property taxes is limited by the state. Since school building maintenance is so expensive, many districts seek referendum funding as the only way to generate revenue above the state caps.
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As one of the largest school districts in the state, Green Bay schools have more than 40 buildings to maintain. The annual $3.5 million that's set aside for school upkeep doesn't go very far for a district of its size, Patchak said.
A large part of the deferred maintenance is related to energy efficiency and preventing weather damage by replacing roofs, windows and updating HVAC systems. Five schools would get new roofs if the referendum passes.
Deferring maintenance is like "ignoring an open wound," Patchak said. The longer maintenance is put off, the more costly it gets as damage worsens and inflation pushes up repair costs.
And the medical bills continue to get higher.
Not to mention the reality of going to a school with unaddressed maintenance needs: It's hard to learn.
"If the referendum doesn't pass, needed maintenance and improvements are not going to happen," Patchak said. "We'll have roofs leaking. We'll have water and wind coming coming through our windows."
Aside from reducing the general maintenance backlog, the referendum funding will update athletic facilities and community spaces.
Having safe, reliable access to these spaces isn't a luxury, Patchak said. Preble High School, the largest school in the district, can't host soccer or track meets because of how deteriorated the field and track are.
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"We have to do something. It's not fair to the kids," he said. "...It's (about) making sure our kids have the experience in school that they deserve."
The district said the property tax rate that residents will pay at the end of the year to support schools will be the lowest since 1984, regardless whether the referendum passes or fails. The current rate for the average homeowner in the district is $9.03 per $1,000 property value.
If the referendum passes, it will drop to $8.24, and if it fails, the rate will drop to $4.76 per $1,000 valuation of property. Actual tax rates will vary depending on local property assessments.
If the referendum fails, however, the district will likely go back to voters and ask for approval of a larger referendum with a bigger tax hike, since those maintenance needs aren't going away, Patchak said.
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High school stadiums and auditoriums might get a makeover
East High School would get locker room and weight room upgrades, tennis court resurfacing, expanded concessions and restrooms, and updates to its auditorium. It also would get a new fire alarm system, storm water management system and new bleachers.
Preble's auditorium would get a renovation with new seating and an improved sound system. Eight classrooms would be added and the stadium would get a new track, artificial turf, restrooms and concessions. It's main parking lot would also be repaved.
The auditorium sound system, gym floor and bleachers would be replaced at Southwest High School. Its baseball field would get artificial turf while its tennis courts also get resurfaced.
West High School will get improvements to its stadium press box, artificial turf, track, and get a new weight room. It would also get new bleachers, air conditioning, video scoreboard and ceiling fans in its large gym.
Middle schools could see gym upgrades and new sound systems
Edison Middle School's auditorium would get an updated sound system, carpet and seating along with a repaved track and long jump.
Franklin would see new bleachers and a new sound system in it's large gym with a volleyball court addition to its smaller gym.
Lombardi is looking at new batting cages and a painted gym, and the John Dewey Academy of Learning's HVAC system would be replaced.
Elementary school playground upgrades
Aldo, Baird, Jackson and Kennedy Elementary schools would get new playgrounds with rubberized surfaces. Red Smith would get a replacement cooler and freezer plus new asphalt for its playground.
Danz and Sullivan parks would get American Disability Act compliant playground equipment.
Board updates COVID-19 protocols for new school year
The board also unanimously approved new COVID-19 protocols for the upcoming school year.
The district will no longer conduct contact tracing for students and staff who get COVID-19, leaving it to families and staff to notify their close contacts if they choose.
As for implementing additional COVID-19 mitigation strategies or face masks, the district will be required to have a special board meeting to determine if extra precautions are needed based on the level of hospitalizations.
When the 7-day total of COVID-19 admissions per 100,000 people in Brown County is larger than 20 or the 7-day average of inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients is greater than 15%, a board meeting will be triggered.
Danielle DuClos covers k-12 education in the Green Bay area as a Report for America corps member. She is based at the Press-Gazette in Green Bay. To contact her, email dduclos@gannett.com or call 907-717-6851. Follow her on Twitter @danielle_duclos.
This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Green Bay School Board approves holding $92.6 building referendum
