Revised School Referendum Gets a Closer Look

Muskego- Norway School Superintendent Joe Schroeder welcomed discussion of the revised plan for building and renovating schools throughout the district Wednesday night at Lakeview Elementary.

A gathering of about 30 to 40 residents were given an overview of what an 18-member citizen facilities study team (FST) initially recommended when they were formed in the fall of 2007 to examine what was needed in the district.  Members had looked at safety, security, cost effectiveness and flexibility in learning environments.  Their findings led to the first referendum, which proposed closing three of Muskego's five elementary schools, building a new facility on the city's east side and expanding Mill Valley Elementary.

After the referendum failed in fall 2010, a January questionnaire that 1,600 residents responded to was evaluated to provide a second recommendation.  The changes from the initial and the revised referenda were the topic of discussion at small group sessions held Wednesday night, and residents shared their input.

While residents didn't have a strong opinion to consolidating to four elementary schools instead of three, there was a level of frustration in the condition of the schools needing upgrades.

"Why do we wait until stuff is falling apart until we replace it?" asked Michael Kuwitzky. "Isn't there a maintenance plan and a master plan to prepare for the costs to replace the old HVAC without having to have another referendum?"

Others also questioned the role of the district's fund balance, which currently stands at more than $20 million, to pay for other costs that are part of the referendum.

"For some of the smaller parts of the plan, like moving the offices at Lakeview or Bay Lane, couldn't we use the fund balance to take care of that instead of asking the tax payers to pay for it?" asked longtime resident Tom Nowicki.

Schroeder addressed this question at the close of the evening, stating that $5 million of the fund balance is being used to offset costs, and that their approach with those funds has been to "make investments smartly and carefully."

Others were supportive of the measures to improve schools, and while some had children in the district, others didn't, citing the importance of property values and attracting new families into the district to live and send their kids to school.

In addition, Kaari Olson, principal at Muskego Elementary, a school targeted for retirement in either referendum, cited the importance of the open enrollment program to accommodate out-of-district families.

"It's nice to have the availability to bring in those students as well, and it does mean additional money coming into the district," Olson said.

Input from this and another session next week Tuesday at Muskego High School will help the school board in finalizing a proposal, which may appear on a ballot in November.  Schroeder said that he would present their proposal at the school board meeting on either June 6 or 20.