Getting permission from the public to spend more money than usual isn’t easy to do. State spending limits on Wisconsin public schools can only be exceeded through referendum votes, and if a referendum fails there’s a three-year ban on revenue increases. That means lots of careful planning and consideration takes place before deciding to ask voters for an increase, and that’s exactly what the Sheboygan Area School District is doing now.
The District has informed its families that both Farnsworth and Urban Middle Schools, built some 90 years ago, are in need of extensive repairs or upgrades. A committee formed in 2021 evaluated options and, based on a study by Bray Architects, has recommended that a new Farnsworth Middle School be built on the south side of the current campus, while Urban would be entirely replaced with its new location proposed near Mill and Najacht Roads. Both would require referendum approval. Bundling that step with an existing election can save money, but also risks the accompanying presidential political sentiment steering the vote.
6:30 p.m. informational meetings on the proposals are scheduled for February 29th at Urban and March 4th at Farnsworth. A mailer and survey will also be sent out this spring followed by more meetings and tours before a decision on whether or not to float a November referendum is announced in July or August.
Meanwhile, those who want to view the Bray Architects study can do so through this link.
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