Changing the Future, Today!
How a Successful School Referendum Will Benefit the Entire Community

By: Jamie Kineast, WASD Treasurer & Jewel Mucklin, WASD District Administrator

Investing in our schools is also an investment into the future of our community. Regardless of community size and demographics, the need for quality education, from brick and mortar to instruction, is a critical priority. However, we understand that reassessments and other projects have led to increased tax burdens for many families and businesses, making it essential to carefully consider the impact of any additional financial commitments. This fall, the Wautoma Area School District is asking voters to support a school referendum aimed at addressing immediate to medium-term maintenance needs at our aging buildings, updating outdated safety measures, and necessary building updates to support more efficient and aligned grade configurations in District school buildings.

With a maximum tax impact of $1.74 per $1,000 of fair market property value, the benefits this additional tax impact will bring to students, the overall community, staff, and families are significant.

Students

Improved Learning Environments: Renovation of identified classrooms will allow for age-appropriate, updated classrooms that can foster student engagement, focus, and sense of community with best practice instructional approaches considered in design.
Improved Safety & Security: Secure entries will result in better access control, migrate risk and bad actors, and provide reassurance to those on school grounds.
Access to Updated Technology: Staying current and updating technology infrastructure will allow for students to have enhanced access and learning opportunities by accessing the world beyond our brick-and-mortar walls.
Better Infrastructure for Learning Programs: A 6-12 site allows access to additional spaces and cross-age opportunities. Middle school students will have increased opportunities to grow regardless of ability by having access to more electives, upper level classes, and new programs.
Reduced Building Transitions: School transitions have the potential to negatively impact achievement due to unfamiliarity of the new environment. Reconfiguring grades served at multiple buildings diminishes this impact while increasing overall efficiency across the district.
Transition Plan: A comprehensive transition plan will be developed to support staff with instructional adjustments for renovated and new learning spaces and building transitions that may be needed prior to 2026-2027.

Community

Potential to Expand Tax Base: Investing in the schools typically results in attracting more families and businesses to the area, which would in turn spread the tax levy across a larger number of taxpayers. This distribution may reduce the individual tax impact.
Stronger Local Economy: New residences and businesses contribute to local economic activity from supporting local shops to building employment opportunities.
Sustainable Long-Term Investment: Investment into our schools now makes the district more appealing to prospective residents and companies. Schools are typically the top priority when deciding where to locate, so improvements will allow the community to stay competitive, ensure steady growth, and balance the tax burden.
Investing in the Future: Preparing students for the workplace and to be productive members of society which in turn helps the community. Thriving communities have quality schools, strong local businesses, and community centers.
Community Greenspace or Development: Riverview Elementary would either become restored greenspace for the community and/or sold to a responsible developer to meet an additional need for the community (i.e housing).

Staff

Improved Working Conditions and Retention: Renovated and well-maintained spaces allow for enhanced job satisfaction, productivity, and retention in this competitive job market.
Shared Resources & Professional Development Collaboration & Opportunities: Resources can be shared and expanded upon and we can better enable collaboration across grade levels.
Safer Work Environment: Improved safety measures creates a sense of security for staff members.
Position Restructuring Opportunities: Still serving the same number of students, the district will be able to restructure certain positions to better meet the needs of students, streamline operations, and align human resources with priorities more effectively.
Improved Curriculum and Instructional Alignment: Better alignment between instructional models and curriculum across grade levels allowing for a cohesive educational experience for students.
Transition Plan: A comprehensive transition plan will be developed to support staff with instructional adjustments for renovated and new learning spaces and building transitions that may be needed prior to 2026-2027.

Parents/Families

Aside from the benefits to their children, families also benefit from:

Improved Safer Pick/Up Drop Off: Families will not have to deal with the site constraints that present at Riverview. A larger area for pick-up and drop-off will allow for a safer and more efficient experience.
Increased Support Services: We can maintain and/or increase resources that focus on mental health, academic support, and interventions.
Safety Schools: Upgraded security and infrastructure allows for a sense of security knowing students are in secure environments that mitigate risk.
Stronger Community Connections: Families benefit from an engaged, supportive community that rallies around schools and investing in the future, which contributes to resident retention.
Separate Bell Schedule: Middle school students will have access to new programs and opportunities at the high school site; however, a separate bell schedule will be developed for students, so students are provided with an age-appropriate environment and to address the needs of both age groups.
Full-Day 4 Year Old Kindergarten: A full-day 4K program will be added to enhance early learning access to our youngest learners, increase social-emotional development, and support working families.

Did you Know? Key Information to Remember!

Costs and district needs will only increase the longer we wait.
The County Government Center project has been on tax bills since 2023. UNLIKE the County, the WASD referendum cannot exceed the $39.8M on the ballot.
The Waushara YMCA is not funded by tax dollars. It’s funded through grants, donations, fundraising, and membership.
A successful referendum would result in a maximum increase of $1.74 per $1,000 of property value. For a property valued at $100,000, the increase would be $14.50 per month or $174 per year.
Reassessment does not automatically increase tax impact.
The Board of Education adopted the question that was built over 18 months with significant help from the community.
This referendum impacts every building, every child.
You can go to www.myvote.wi.gov to learn where to vote.

We recognize that this referendum represents a financial commitment from the community; the benefits and impact are immense. From enhanced safety and improved learning environments to expanded early learning opportunities and a tailored middle school schedule, these upgrades will elevate our district and strengthen our community. Investing in our schools means investing in the future—one that supports students, attracts new families, and increases local property values, ultimately benefiting us all. As you weigh your decision for November 5th, we encourage you to consider the lasting value this investment will provide for students today and for generations to come.

Wautoma Area School District

November 2024

Referendum Series

Week of October 27, 2024

Week of October 21, 2024

Week of October 14, 2024

Week of October 7, 2024

Week of September 30, 2024

Press Releases

October 21, 2024

September 25, 2024

August 20, 2024

August 12, 2024

June 10, 2024

April 22, 2024

April 12, 2024

March 18, 2024

February 27, 2024

February 13, 2024

January 22, 2024

September 22, 2023