STRENGTHEN OUR SCHOOLS,
PRESERVE OUR FUTURE
On the April 1, 2025 spring election ballot, MPSD will seek voter approval to borrow $25 million for critical facilities maintenance, safety, security and building infrastructure. SEE THE LIST OF PROJECTS HERE
If approved, the borrowing will have NO TAX IMPACT on December 2025 property tax bills, after the District and Board of Education offset the borrowing costs with operational budget savings.
Interim Supt. Lee Thennes presented a plan to the Board's Personnel & Policy Committee on March 4 to achieve those savings by right-sizing the district's staffing to match current and future enrollment trends, saving more than $1.7 million a year. For all but possibly a few secondary positions, the reductions can be done through attrition and staffing changes. It will not reduce any programs or services but will demonstrate fiscal responsibility by paying the borrowing costs so the critical maintenance repairs will not raise taxes.
Thennes explains the need, solution and financing cost for the referendum in this video presentation you can watch anytime below on this page or on YouTube. Or you can look at the presentation slides here.
Our buildings are aging - most were built in the 1920s, '30s, '50s and '60s. These are common projects across our schools that are the highest priority safety, security, building infrastructure and critical maintenance needs:
SAFETY & SECURITY
- Student drop off/pickup, traffic and pedestrian safety
- Fire alarms and emergency backup generators
- Security cameras and LED lighting
- ADA accessibility - elevators, ramps and bathrooms
- Perimeter fencing
CRITICAL MAINTENANCE & BUILDING INFRASTRUCTURE
- Exterior tuck pointing, windows and roofs
- Electrical main services
- Plumbing and HVAC systems
- Doors, ceilings and floors
- Asphalt parking and concrete sidewalk
SEE THE LIST OF PROJECTS HERE
SEE FACT SHEET
If approved, the borrowing for the facilities maintenance is projected to add 16 cents per $1,000 of equalized value to the 2025-2026 school property tax rate. That would add $16 for a $100,000 home or $32 for a $200,000 home.
But those borrowing costs will not raise school taxes because MPSD is committed to offsetting the annual borrowing debt payments with savings in the district's operational budget. Because staffing costs represent the largest part of the district's budget, the district presented a
staffing plan on March 3 that begins to outline those savings before the election. That plan addresses teaching positions because those contracts need to be submitted by May 15, but the district will also be looking at other areas of staffing, including administration.
MPSD leaders are not only committed to offsetting the cost of borrowing, they will do all they can to keep the total MPSD tax rate as flat as possible to stabilize taxes next December and in the future.
Aging Buildings from the 1920s to 1960s
Under state revenue limits, MSPD has had to prioritize expenses for staffing and student educational programs and opportunities over major facilities projects. But with aging schools, many building components, equipment and materials have reached or passed their useful life.
We need to make these improvements for the safety and security of our students, staff and families.
1924 - 101 years - Lincoln High School
1931 - 94 years - Wilson Middle School
1936 - 89 years - Washington Middle School
1953 - 72 years - Franklin Elementary School
1953 - 72 years - Jackson Elementary School
1955 - 70 years - Madison Elementary School
1964 - 61 years - Monroe Elementary School
1969 - 56 years - Stangel Learning/McKinley Academy
1969 - 56 years - Riverview Learning Community
1995 - 30 years - Jefferson Elementary School
Long-Term Facilities Planning
The $25 million is about half of the $47 million in immediate facilities needs that were identified in a
district-wide facilities assessment completed in March 2024. That assessment found a total of about $161 million in needed repairs and safety improvements across all facilities over the next 10 years.
A
Community Facilities Advisory Committee began meeting Feb. 13 and will meet monthly through next fall to develop recommendations for a long-term district master facilities plan. A separate Staff Facilities Advisory Committee also is meeting monthly and will collaborate with the Community group next fall before the two groups provide recommendations to the Board.
Operational Referendums vs. Capital/Facilities Referendums
MPSD's critical facilities maintenance needs are larger than the district can fund in its operational budgets. Borrowing to fix these significant repairs requires voter approval.
While MPSD has had to rely on renewing operating referendums to maintain our educational programming, it has been 21 years since the district asked for a facilities referendum, also known as a capital referendum - which is what the $25 million April 1, 2025 referendum is.
- In 2004 - 21 years ago - MPSD voters approved a capital referendum to borrow $1.4 million to support the school lunch program.
- In 1997 - 28 years ago - the community supported a $25 million capital referendum to make improvements to Lincoln High School and most district schools.
The MPSD is one of few districts that has not had a facilities referendum for decades. In the past 20 years, 85% of Wisconsin public school districts (356 out of 421) have held at least one capital referendum, with many districts seeking approval for multiple building projects. This includes many districts in Manitowoc County and the greater region.