Voters in the Oconto Falls School District on Aug. 12 approved two referendum questions, finally giving school officials the funding they sought to develop outdoor athletic facilities, complete maintenance projects, expand one-to-one technology for students and spend more money on personnel.
Superintendent Dave Polashek called the passage of both questions a “pleasant surprise” and a major turning point for the community.
“The community has to have a sense of pride in making the right decision to provide a brighter future for the young people who will be working their way through our schools,” he said.
He thanked the people who helped get the message out about the referendum.
“We heard that many of the people who went to the polls were first-time voters and had to register to vote,” he said. “If that’s the case, we have to compliment these young voters for stepping forward on this important issue.”
According to official results, the first referendum question passed with 63 percent of the vote, 1,285-747, and will allow the district to build a $1.1 million football stadium and track at Oconto Falls High School. School officials plan to break ground this fall.
The sports complex is part of a $2.2 million proposal, paid with a long-term bond, which also includes parking lot repaving at the district’s buildings and renovations of the parking lot and entrance at Abrams Elementary School.
A second referendum question, which passed with 60 percent of the vote, 1,218-810, will provide an additional $400,000 each year for three years, beginning with the 2014-15 school year. Of the $400,000, $275,000 will be used to provide individual laptops for students entering grades 7 and 10; $50,000 will be used to attract and retain quality teachers; and $75,000 will be used for roof repair.
Three previous referendums for outdoor facilities failed in the school district, and a 2012 referendum for facilities, programming and technology was rejected by a nearly 2-1 margin.
According to the school district, the financial impact for taxpayers for Tuesday’s referendum questions is $24 per $100,000 of equalized value for the first year and $16 for the second year. The levy stays the same or drops for the next six years, when all the long-term debt is paid off.
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