On behalf of the School Board, administration, staff, and students I want to thank the community for approving the District’s facilities referendum question last night. We are very grateful and humbled by the support from our community!
Our planning for the renovations and updates at the Reedsburg Area High School will begin this month. You can count on regular updates on our progress as well as a community open house to view the renovations as those projects are completed. We commit to projects that will be completed on-time and on-budget, with finished products that will make our community proud.
We also respect the voice of our community on our unsuccessful operational referendum, which would have provided additional operating funds to offset our projected budget shortfalls in each of the next four years. Our work in this area will now turn to the difficult conversations around budget reductions and continuing to find ways to maximize operational efficiencies and ensuring that we maximize the dollars we have available to support our strategic directions. In addition, we commit to continuing to engage our state representatives to advocate for sufficient financial support from the state, including continued and consistent increases to the revenue limit, increases in flexible state aid, adequate support for Special Education, and an increase to the low-revenue ceiling. It is long past time that the state supported public education at a level that doesn’t put school districts in the position of continuing to ask their communities for additional funding. I hope you will join me in advocating with our elected officials.
I will always believe that strong schools and healthy, vibrant communities are inextricably linked. The results on Tuesday are a good example of that belief in action here in Reedsburg. Thank you again for your trust and support for our facilities projects. And please know that we will continue to be fierce advocates for adequate funding from the state so we can continue our efforts to provide a world-class educational experience to all students at all levels here in Reedsburg.
Go Beavers!
Roger Rindo, Ed.D. Superintendent
Vote November 5, 2024
As we approach November 5th, Superintendent Dr. Roger Rindo shares the facts about the referendum questions, in case you have missed it, along with some new information,
“Our finalized state aid on October 15th came in higher than estimated, and the total equalized value in the District increased more than estimated. With those final numbers in, I can confirm here that if both referendum questions pass, the impact will result in an increase of $.06 cents per thousand dollars of home value. In other words, the school tax impact if both questions are approved would be an increase of $6 dollars for every $100,000 dollars of equalized home value.”
Watch the video and join us in our continued pursuit of excellence in Reedsburg on November 5th.
Learn more about our two Referendum questions below.
For more information:
Please choose the appropriate link on the left-hand side of this page under Referendum 2024 or visit Long-Term Facilities Planning.
Reedsburg Board of Education Votes to Put Referendum Questions on November 5th Ballot
The School District of Reedsburg’s Board of Education unanimously voted Monday, August 19, 2024 to put two referendum questions on the November 5, 2024 General Election ballot. The board approved questions to address the need for additional operating funds and to complete a facilities project at Reedsburg Area High School.
VIDEO: Early Voting & Flip the Ballot Reminder
Ballot Question One - OPERATING FUNDS:
Exceed the revenue limit by $4 million per year for the next four years (non-recurring), ending with the 2027-2028 school year, for the purpose of:
Filling projected budget deficits in each of the four years as a result of shortfalls in state funding;
Maintaining and expanding on our current focus to provide rigorous academic programs and career pathways for all students;
Keeping class sizes as low as possible;
Continuing to attract and retain high-quality staff;
Addressing the most urgent maintenance needs at Webb Middle School.
“We have been diligent in our advocacy for increased funding at the state level, but we have reached a critical level. For too long, state funding has not kept up with the cost of operating the district. For example, this past year, the District had to transfer 4.9 million dollars from the General Fund to the Special Education Fund because the state only supports Special Education funding at approximately 30%. An operational referendum is our only alternative to increase revenue,” said Superintendent Roger Rindo, Ed.D.
Operational Referendum
Webb Middle & Other School Maintenance Needs - Operational Referendum
Ballot Question Two - FACILITIES PROJECT:
Invest $14 million in the Reedsburg Area High School to:
Renovate and update equipment in the Construction Trades, Manufacturing and Engineering, and Agriculture spaces;
Add a new greenhouse and provide space for new and innovative programs in Agriculture, Animal Science, and Natural Resources;
Renovate the library, large group room, and two adjacent classrooms to create the new Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship;
Lightly renovate the cafeteria / commons.
“Our first priority is always keeping our students warm, safe, and dry,” said Dr. Rindo. “But this proposal represents a strategic investment in student learning opportunities. The proposed renovations at RAHS will improve our ability to deliver the relevant, career-focused education area employers have been calling for.”
Career & Technology Education Spaces at RAHS - Facilities Referendum
Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship at RAHS - Facilities Referendum
Estimated Tax Impact:
The estimated tax impact for both referendum questions combined is an increase of .35 cents per 1,000 dollars of property value. With both questions approved, the projected 2024-2025 tax rate is estimated to increase from $7.00 to $7.35. The District will maintain this rate by adjusting its early payments on existing debt.
“On November 5th, we are seeking voter input on the District’s most immediate needs,” said Board President Gary Woolever. “We have listened to the community and developed a referendum plan based on our community’s input.”
Next Steps:
Over the next few months, the community will have numerous opportunities to learn more about both proposed referendum questions. Join us for Referendum Information Sessions on Wednesday, October 9 or Tuesday, October 15 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at Reedsburg Area High School. Tour Reedsburg Area High School and visit with District staff and partners EUA and Kraemer Brothers to learn more about the Referendum questions.
Residents can also visit the district webpage at www.rsd.k12.wi.us, email questions to referendum@rsd.k12.wi.us, or contact the Central Office at (608) 524-2016.
Background:
Over the last two years, the School Board has worked diligently through a comprehensive facilities planning process focused on ensuring the District’s learning environments can support innovative programs for our students. Last year, the Board approved a long-term facilities plan to guide its work in this area. While the Board initially focused on including a new middle school as a part of the first phase of this plan along with focused renovations to the High School, the community-wide survey conducted this past spring indicated that the cost of a new middle school was beyond what the overall community would support this time. However, the Board hasn’t lost sight of the significant needs at Webb Middle School. The Board is developing a plan to revisit a middle school project in the future, likely timed with the final debt repayment from the construction of Prairie Ridge Intermediate School.
Why Now?
Like many Wisconsin school districts, the School District of Reedsburg does not receive adequate funding from the state due to three main factors:
An outdated and inequitable school funding formula at the state level
Inadequate funding increases from the state in recent years
Increasing expenses and inflation
Strategic Efforts:
Responsible fiscal management is one of the focus areas in the District’s strategic plan. As a tactical effort in this area, the District has been working to pay down its current voter-approved debt.
The District also anticipated the potential of going to an operational question to support the district’s ongoing operational needs and programmatic goals. As a result of those strategic efforts, the district has created flexibility that can be used to manage the impact of both a capital and operational referendum while maintaining a fairly level and predictable tax rate.
The School District of Reedsburg remains steadfast in its vision to provide a world-class educational experience to all students at all levels. We strive to inspire creativity, innovation, and a desire to achieve greatness.
Ballot Questions:
The questions will appear on the November 5, 2024 ballot as follows:
QUESTION NUMBER ONE:
Shall the School District of Reedsburg, Sauk and Juneau Counties, Wisconsin be authorized to exceed the revenue limit specified in Section 121.91, Wisconsin Statutes, by $4,000,000 per year for four years, beginning with the 2024-2025 school year and ending with the 2027-2028 school year, for non-recurring purposes consisting of operational and capital maintenance expenses?
QUESTION NUMBER TWO:
Shall the School District of Reedsburg, Sauk and Juneau Counties, Wisconsin be authorized to issue pursuant to Chapter 67 of the Wisconsin Statutes, general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $14,000,000 for the public purpose of paying the cost of a school improvement project at the High School consisting of: construction of an addition and renovations for construction trades, manufacturing, engineering, agriculture and other classroom areas; capital maintenance, systems and site improvements; and acquisition of furnishings, fixtures and equipment?
Last Updated July 15, 2024 - At its meeting on Monday, July 15, the School District of Reedsburg’s Board of Education approved proceeding with Capital and Operational Referendum questions on November 5, 2024. This action allows the board to move forward with the development of the official resolution and ballot language for the two referendum questions and how they could appear on the ballot. Then, the board will consider adopting the two ballot questions during the August board meeting.
Proposed Facilities Referendum
Following community listening sessions and a district-wide survey, the Board of Education developed a $14 million facilities plan that would renovate and upgrade the RAHS Construction Trades, Manufacturing/Engineering, and Agriculture spaces and would create a small addition to the agriculture space that would include a new greenhouse and allow for additional new and innovative programs in Agriculture, Animal Science and Natural Resources. The plan would also upgrade the commons into a more inviting space for our students and our community and renovate the library, large group room, and two adjacent classrooms into what is being called the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
“Our first priority is always keeping our students warm, safe, and dry,” said Superintendent Roger Rindo, Ed.D. “But this proposal represents a strategic investment in student learning opportunities. The proposed renovations at RAHS will improve our ability to deliver the relevant, career-focused education area employers have been calling for.”
The referendum proposal is part of the long-term facilities plan developed by the Board of Education.
“We have listened to the community and developed a referendum plan based on their input,” said Board President Gary Woolever. “In November, we are seeking voter input on most immediate needs. But we must remember that the district will need to replace Webb Middle School at some point in the future, and the District has a plan for that as well.”
Proposed Operational Solution
The Board of Education also authorized a non-recurring operational referendum to exceed the revenue limit by $4 million annually over the next four years. In going to an operational referendum, the School District of Reedsburg is joining the majority of public school districts across the state that have sought operational referendums in recent years to combat state funding failing to keep up with rising costs. During this past February and April elections alone, 65 school districts across the state had operations questions on the ballot.
“We have been diligent in our advocacy for increased funding at the state level, but we have reached a critical level. For too long, state funding has not kept up with the cost of operating the district. For example, in this past year, the District had to transfer $4.9 million dollars from the General Fund to the Special Education Fund because the state only supports Special Education funding at approximately 30%. An operational referendum is our only other alternative to increase revenue,” said Dr. Rindo.
If both questions are successful, the tax impact would result in a tax increase between $.40 and $.55 cents. At $7.55, that is lower than the tax rate two years ago, which was $7.63. The District is working with its financial consultant and will have a firm estimate on the tax increase at the August meeting when the Board will need to take formal action on the actual referendum resolution and ballot language.
“If successful,” Rindo added, “this plan will help ensure the district is delivering the best possible programs and services to our students, and we will provide details on all of this in the weeks and months ahead.”
Next Steps
Residents can learn more by visiting the district website or by contacting the Central Office at (608) 524-2016.
Last Updated: 11/19/24
Join Us:
Tour Reedsburg Area High School and visit with District staff and partners EUA and Kraemer Brothers to learn more about the Referendum questions.
Visit MyVote to find your polling place or for more information on voter registration and photo identification requirements. Contact your local municipal clerk for in-person and traditional absentee voting information.
