Bonduel seeking $12.5M school referendum

Renovating aging classrooms, building new gym among list of projects
By: 
Lee Pulaski
City Editor

The Bonduel School District will be asking voters to approve $12.5 million in bonds to allow for some needed improvements and renovations to its facilities.

The Bonduel School Board voted earlier this month to proceed with the referendum. If voters approve the referendum in an April 6 election, property owners can expect to pay 16 cents per $1,000 of equalized valuation, which means the owner of a $100,000 home will be paying an additional $16.

Many of the classrooms at Bonduel High School were built in the 1950s and are in need of improvements, according to Superintendent Joe Dawidziak. Floor and ceiling replacement, new windows, a fresh coat of paint and replacing the original doors and frames are part of the work planned to modernize those classrooms.

“We started out with a discussion of wants versus needs and trying to come up with a plan that limited tax impact to taxpayers,” Dawidziak said. “We went through a study with Miron Construction and Blue Design (Architects), and what you see in the plan is a result of talking with various stakeholders.”

The district also plans to build a two-court gymnasium with locker rooms near the current front entrance of the high school. A new entrance would be created on the school’s west side, adding a canopy and building signage.

The existing high school gymnasium would also be remodeled, as Dawidziak noted that it and the current middle school gymnasium would continue to see voracious use by both the school and the community. Refinishing the hardwood floors and replacing the scoreboards, goal posts and ceiling fans would be part of the remodel.

“We’re convinced those facilities are going to be used all day and all night,” Dawidziak said.

The upgrades would also include making sure the high school is compliant with the Americans With Disabilities Act. Also, air conditioning framework would be installed in the classrooms and at Sousa Hall, where the school district holds concert and theater events.

Although most of the work is at the middle and high school, there would be some work done at Bonduel Elementary School. The school’s main entry would be remodeled to create a secure foyer with an electronic system in place when visitors come to the school. Also, aging exterior doors and frames would be replaced.

“If you walk through the building, it’s fairly obvious where the oldest parts are in the (high school) building,” Dawidziak said. “The elementary building is the newest in our district.”

These items need to be addressed, regardless of what the current enrollment is, according to Dawidziak. The district believes the financial situation is optimal to pursue the referendum now, as the pandemic has financial institutions cutting interest rates.

“We had originally talked about doing this (referendum) in November, but with the state of the economy and COVID, the timing was very inappropriate,” Dawidziak said. “We’re in a very different place that way (now).”

He noted that the district had sent out a community survey in 2020, and about 75% of the respondents were in favor of the $12.5 million plan. That could be a good indicator in a community with a spotty history when it comes to passing referenda.

“I don’t know how accurate that (survey) is in terms of everyone who would actually vote, but it’s at least a good place to start,” Dawidziak said. “We believe we’re kind of on the right track.”

The district plans to execute an aggressive education campaign to make sure voters are aware of what they’re voting for. Dawidziak noted he plans to do a “road show” in several areas where he would explain what the district will do with the $12.5 million. In-person and virtual meetings are planned.

lpulaski@newmedia-wi.com