Over the past several months, our Administrative team and Board of Education have been engaged in a thoughtful and deliberate process to determine the best long-term solution for one of our district's most significant facility challenges—Webb Middle School.
I want to thank the many staff members, parents, community members, and partners who have shared their questions, ideas, and perspectives throughout this process. Your feedback has helped shape the conversations taking place at the Board table.
Why We Began This Process
For many years, Webb Middle School has experienced increasing challenges due to its aging infrastructure. This past school year in particular, we experienced more frequent failures in mechanical and electrical systems, and emergency repairs to the outdated building systems, resulting in disruptions to student learning and increasing maintenance costs.
Our goal has never been simply to replace a building. Instead, our responsibility has been to identify the most responsible long-term solution that provides students with a warm, safe, and reliable learning environment while being mindful of the financial impact on our community.
A Careful and Deliberate Process
Since this spring, the Administrative team and staff members, along with the Board, have participated in multiple workshops and planning sessions to better understand our facility needs and evaluate potential solutions.
Working alongside district administration and our planning partners from EUA and Kraemer Brothers, the Board has:
- Reviewed the condition of existing facilities.
- Evaluated multiple building and grade configuration concepts.
- Examined educational opportunities and long-term operational impacts.
- Compared construction costs and estimated tax impacts.
- Considered how each option would affect students, staff, families and the community.
- Refined concepts to reduce overall project costs while still addressing the district's most urgent needs.
Throughout the process, the Board has emphasized making decisions based on what is best for students while remaining fiscally responsible to our taxpayers.
July Board Workshop
At its July 13 Facilities Planning Workshop, the Board reviewed three potential facility solutions designed to address the district's needs.
Each option was evaluated using consistent criteria, including:
- Student educational experience
- Building safety and reliability
- Long-term operating costs
- Ease of transition
- Overall project cost
- Estimated tax impact
Following extensive discussion, Board members reached consensus to continue refining one preferred option for further consideration.
The concept under development is a new, revised 6–8 middle school to be built adjacent to Prairie Ridge Intermediate School. Compared to earlier concepts developed in 2023, this proposal has been significantly reduced in size and cost while continuing to address the district's most pressing facility needs.
Board members noted several reasons for selecting this concept for further refinement, including:
- It maintains the district's current grade configuration, minimizing disruption for students and families.
- It provides learning spaces specifically designed for middle school students.
- It has the lowest estimated project cost and tax impact among the options studied.
- It addresses the urgent need to replace Webb Middle School while supporting the district's long-term facilities vision.
What Happens Next?
The district administration will continue refining the recommended concept over the coming weeks and will present a final recommendation at the Board of Education’s August 17th meeting.
If approved by the Board, that recommendation would become the basis for a community Capital Referendum on November 3, 2026.
It is important to understand that an August Board decision would establish a direction—not finalize every detail of the project. There would still be significant planning, design, community engagement, and preparation before any construction begins.
Continuing the Conversation
We recognize that a facilities project of this magnitude raises important questions, and we are committed to keeping our community informed every step of the way.
In the weeks ahead, families and community members can expect additional information, frequently asked questions, opportunities to learn more about the proposal, and ways to ask questions before any referendum takes place.
This process has always been about planning responsibly for the future of our students. The Board's work has focused on identifying a solution that addresses an immediate facility need while making a prudent investment in the long-term future of the School District of Reedsburg.
Thank you for your continued interest, your thoughtful questions, and your partnership as we continue this important work together.
Respectfully,
Tom Burkhalter
Superintendent
