Lee Pulaski, lpulaski@wolfrivermedia.com
The Shawano School District will move forward with its referendum for Shawano Community Middle School, but with fewer projects than proposed.
The School Board voted unanimously Monday to ask voters on Nov. 3 to approve a referendum for $9.25 million to upgrade the middle school’s infrastructure. If the amount is approved, property owners can expect an increase of 35 cents per $1,000 of equalized valuation on their school district taxes, which equates to $35 more on a $100,000 home.
Originally, representatives from Somerville Architects and Miron Construction brought a recommendation of $11.5 million to the board on Aug. 3. The tax rate increase anticipated for that amount was 46 cents per $1,000.
After a series of meetings with the public and school district officials, the board determined that more than $1.5 million could be shaved off the project, which is intended to keep the school functioning for another 25 to 30 years.
Plans to replace all the school’s interior doors were scrapped, as were remodeling the school’s courtyard and replacing unused lights on the stage in the main gymnasium.
Jeff Easter, the district’s building maintenance director, also lowered projected costs for asbestos abatement, based on previous abatement work.
The cuts brought the price tag down to $9.96 million, but district business manager Louise Fischer was able to find an additional $700,000 in savings. Fischer said $500,000 could come from additional state aid projected for the 2015-16 school year, and $200,000 of the food service fund balance could be earmarked for the kitchen remodeling.
Board member Michael Sleeper said the projected cost was a bargain when compared with building a new school, which district officials estimated would cost at least $35 million.
“If we can spend $10 million or less and get this up to speed and get another 25 years from it, it’s some the best money we can invest as a school district,” Sleeper said. “It’s high time we move forward, and for me, it’s a very sound decision.”
Board member Bruce Milavitz said he would vote in favor the referendum proposal with the caveat that if the remodeling comes in under budget, the remaining money would be used to repay the debt created from borrowing.