Voters in three Pierce County school districts (Ellsworth, Plum City and Prescott) had referendum questions to ponder on their April 5 ballots and all three passed decisively.

Ellsworth

Ellsworth voters were asked to vote on a non-recurring operational referendum to replace the one expiring at the end of the 2021-22 school year. By voting yes, which they did 1,149 to 649, taxpayers authorized the Ellsworth Community School District to exceed its revenue limit by $1.3 million per year, for the 2022-23 school year through the 2025-26 school year. The referendum is non-recurring, meaning that it doesn’t automatically renew. The purpose for this extra money, in a nutshell, is to maintain educational programming, technology and facilities.

An operational referendum gives voters local control to invest in their school district through a property tax increase above the state man-

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dated “revenue limits.” It’s not a referendum to incur debt, but to provide for the ongoing operations related to educational programming, technology, transportation and facilities maintenance.

“We function with a below average revenue limit,” said Cain. “Which is why we have to come to the taxpayers.”

State revenue limits (or levy cap) were put in place in 1993 and haven’t change since. Ellsworth, considered a low-spending district, received a revenue limit well below state average, Cain said. Even with the $1 million referendum in place the last few years, in 2021 Ellsworth ranks 302 out of 421 school districts in “Revenue Limit Dollars Per Member.” Without the current $1 million referendum in place, Ellsworth would have ranked 401 out of 402.

In 2019-2020, the state average cost per student for instruction, support staff and administration tallied up to $11,930. Ellsworth spent $11,080 per student, which is $850 under the state average per child.

The cost of things increases, such as curricular requirements, building maintenance, utilities, salaries, etc., but the state revenue limit formula hasn’t. This requires districts to either cut costs or request additional funds from taxpayers. Ellsworth is not alone in requesting additional funds through an operating referendum, joining 48 other districts across the state.

“We are so thankful to have the support we have in the community and that people understand the needs we have that gives us the ability to keep doing what we’re doing,” Cain said April 8. “This allows us to keep moving our facilities ahead and our transportation fleet.”

The school board will be tasked with considering projects and expenditures, such as buying buses, replacing roofs and carpet, and a big item, student furniture. Cain said the referendum passing will also allow the district to maintain its 1:1 technology support by providing each student their own Chromebook to take home every day.

Another important consideration in a competitive job market is wages, particularly in specialty areas, Cain said. The board will take up these negotiations in the next two to three months.

“A lot of these things that we have been able to do would have ground to a halt,” Cain said had the referendum not passed. “We are very happy and proud of the fact that we’re going to be able to continue to make these improvements, instead of allowing problems to build and kick the can down the road. We can maintain our quality programming, quality facilities and transportation and the cost avoidance. If we wait the costs just get bigger and we’re able to stay away from that.”

Some examples of things made possible by referendum dollars include: Staffing/curriculum:

•Math and reading specialist positions, who guide staff in math and reading instruction. These positions also helped provide distance learning opportunities for kids during the pandemic.

•Smaller class sizes, which allows kids to get individualized services and teachers to address learning loss that occurred during the pandemic.

•New math and reading curriculum, which are aligned with state learning standards.

Transportation & grounds

•The district tries to replace two buses per year, which costs about $95,000 each. The district’s fleet has improved dramatically due to this practice, helping students arrive at school and home safely.

•The district recently replaced concrete flooring, the shop furnace and overhead doors in the bus garage, which was in dire need of updates. Portable lifts for buses and vans were also added.

•Mowers, tractors, skidsteers and snow removal equipment is needed to maintain the grounds Technology:

•Providing all students with Chromebook to use at home and school. These need to be replaced and maintained over time; they allowed students to continue learning when schools were online only.

•Technology labs, staff computers, wireless access points and network security upgrades are a necessity to maintain.

•Additional security cameras and controlled access points were added to all school buildings.

Gyms & athletics:

•The district reinstated the district-paid accident insurance that covers students during the school day and in most sports, following the 2018 operational referendum approval.

•The original EHS gym received new lighting and new paint on the ceiling and walls.

•The middle school gym received a new wood floor, new bleachers, a new sound system and paint.

•Fuller-Symes Field/the outdoor track now has a new scoreboard and upgraded concession stand.

•The tennis courts will be resurfaced and painted this summer, while the track recently had its resurfacing completed.

•Eighteen exterior doors will be replaced at the EHS south gym in Summer 2022.

Facility maintenance/upgrades:

•EHS kitchen and cafeteria roof replacement. Roofing replacements are based on life cycles and condition. This section, to be done in Summer 2022, will cost $100,000.

•Four EHS bathrooms straight out of the 1960s are now modernized with new flooring, plumbing, lighting and fixtures.

•Worn asbestos floors at EHS was replaced in the freshman hallways and many classrooms.

•The chillers at EMS and EHS are being replaced due to life cycles and to improve the air quality in the buildings.

•The pool’s filters, pumps and boilers have all been replaced.

“We always want that honest conversation,” Cain said about district needs. “I’m just going to say what it is and what the realities are. Respectful questions and conversation was great to see.”

Plum City

Plum City School District voters approved a three-year non-recurring operational referendum by a margin of 377 to 179.

“This operational levy will allow the district to update our career and technical education offerings, improve our advanced coursework, be competitive in the hiring market, account for inflation, and address our facilities maintenance plan and aging infrastructure, among other things,” said Superintendent Brian Nadeau.

The district asked voters to approve an operational referendum that will allow the district to exceed its revenue limit by $1 million for the 2022-23 school year, by $1.1 million for the 2023-24 school year, and by $1.2 million for the 2024-25 school year.

If the referendum didn’t pass, the school district was looking at drastically reduce services, closing, or being consolidated with another district.

“The funds are required to stabilize the district’s financial condition during these three years,” states the district’s referendum handout.

Nadeau said for the 2021-22 school year, the district is operating at a deficit due to a number of factors. The five-year operational referendum expired at the end of the 2020-21 school year, so the ability to levy for those dollars went away. The district saw a failed referendum last year and the cost of things continues to increase.

“When you’re in that mode and the state doesn’t put any new dollars in education, you have things happening in your facilities that need attention and they don’t always get it,” Nadeau said of deferred maintenance due to budget constraints. “We appreciate the overwhelming support demonstrated by the community that allows us to continue to serve the students and families in the Plum City Schools.”

The referendum is non-recurring and does not automatically renew. It will replace the fiveyear operational referendum that expired at the end of the 2020-21 school year, approved by voters in 2016. The referendum is not to incur debt, but to provide ongoing educational programming, technology, transportation and facilities maintenance that has been deferred.

“We’re essentially trying to right the ship right now, then it’s about determining a longterm plan for the district,” Nadeau said. “A three-year Band-aid will be here and gone before you know it.”

Plum City’s mill rate, which is the amount of taxes paid per dollar of a property’s assessed value, is lower than surrounding districts of similar size. Plum City’s current mill rate is 8.55, which means the school district taxes on a $100,000 property are $855 per year. Elmwood’s and Pepin’s current mill rates are 11.57, while Gilmanton is 12.78. Plum City’s mill rate will now be 10.95 each year until the end of the 2025-26 school year, which is lower than in previous years: 12.34 in 2016-17, 12.89 in 2017-18, 12.48 in 2018-19, 11.18 in 2019-20, and 11.06 in 2020-21.

As for per pupil spending in Plum City vs. other similarly sized districts, Plum City spends $15,012 per student, Elmwood spends $16,876, Pepin spends $17,154 and Gilmanton spends $18,135.

Prescott

Prescott School District voters approved a $15 million facilities and maintenance referendum 890 to 703. The money will be used to make needed upgrades and repairs at three of the district’s four school buildings: Malone Elementary, Malone Intermediate and Prescott Middle schools.

“First and foremost, the Prescott School Board and I want to thank our community for the investment and support of Prescott Public Schools,” Superintendent Dr. Rick Spicuzza said. “The facilities require focused care and these generational investments are essential to sustaining excellence. The vote is a nice validation to our staff and students that the community is there for them.”

Spicuzza credits clear, open, accessible communication through numerous channels (website, the Journal, district-wide mailings, cable television, radio interviews and public speaking engagements) as the reason voters approved the referendum. The school board, administration and buildings were also made accessible during open houses, tours and other events, Spicuzza said.

A facilities study conducted in 2019 identified repairs needed at the three buildings. In 2020, a community survey tested taxpayers’ tolerance for a referendum question, and in 2021 a Facilities Advisory Committee comprised of 11 people from around the district was formed. They studied the needs listed in the 2019 facility study and prioritized what they felt needed addressing the most.

Now that the referendum has passed, the next step is for PSD Finance Coordinator Sue Gerdes and Spicuzza to work with Baird Financial to finalize the best path forward on selling the $15 million bond, which should take about six to eight weeks.

“This will provide us with the terms of the repayment, interest rates and number of years,” Spicuzza said.

Then, Building and Grounds Supervisor Mike Hoikka and other key district personnel will begin work with Market & Johnson on prioritizing the projects and bid releases later this week.

Depending on project bids, vendor timelines and the supply chain, work will likely begin in Summer 2022 and go through Fall 2023.

The repairs and upgrades prioritized by the 11-member Facilities Advisory Committee include: Malone Elementary – partial roof replacement, plumbing and HVAC upgrades, tuckpointing of building exterior (to prevent leaks); upgrade outdated electrical panels, circuits and systems; updates for ADA compliance, replace kitchen hood and fire suppression system.

Malone Intermediate – roof replacement, tuckpointing of building exterior, asbestos abatement, update lighting controls; interior flooring, casework, ceilings and wall repair; fire alarm system, plumbing upgrades, kitchen hood fire suppression.

Prescott Middle School – tuckpointing of building exterior, plumbing and HVAC upgrades, electrical systems upgrade, upgrade fire alarm system Maintaining the four buildings is part of a long-term plan, Spicuzza emphasized.

“We need all four buildings at this time and we are obligated to take care of the buildings we own,” he said. “Are there other factors to consider with regard to our facilities on how long to maintain, when to build new or consolidate if renovations or expansions are required? Of course, as these are annual considerations each and every year. However, wants always exceed the financial parameters in play, and that’s why the financial stewardship by the school board has been exemplary.”

The last time the district held a building referendum was 2004. In that referendum, $1.755 allowed the district to remodel, repair and perform improvement projects at what was then Prescott High School (now Malone Intermediate). Another $7 million was used for asbestos abatement and renovation at PMS. Prior to that, the district passed a referendum in 2000 for $1.52 million, which addressed renovation needs and an addition at Malone Elementary School.

Ellsworth Community School District

Plum City School District

Prescott School District