Oak Creek-Franklin Voters to Decide on School Referendum

On November 4, 2014, voters in the Oak Creek-Franklin School District (OCFJSD) will make a choice whether or not to expand facilities for elementary and high school students in order to meet increasing enrollment numbers in the district.

Oak Creek and Franklin are among the fastest growing communities in Wisconsin, and OCFJSD schools are quickly running out of room. The Applied Population Laboratory at the University of Wisconsin–Madison projects a continued growth in enrollment for the next several years.

To address the facilities needs of the district, OCFJSD has utilized a volunteer advisory committee comprised of educators, parents, community leaders, and citizens to explore and assess options and make recommendations to the school board. These committees have been convened in 2005, 2010, and 2014 through an open invitation for any interested residents.

After careful consideration of multiple options, the 2014 committee made a recommendation to the school board to put two questions to referendum in November: the first to build a new elementary school and to expand the high school campus by constructing a new building, and the second to include an 800-seat auditorium in the new secondary building. In August, the school board members voted in favor of this recommendation. Details about the plans for the new buildings can be found on the district’s website at www.ocfsd.org/referendum.

Voters have the opportunity to hear from OCFSD superintendent Dr. Sara Burmeister and staff from VJS Construction and Epstein Uhen Architects, as they provide a detailed overview of the referendum and answers questions at the following public forums on Saturday, October 18th at 9:00 a.m. at the and Wednesday, October 29th at 6:30 p.m., both at the Oak Creek Community Center.

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YES for Oak Creek Schools is an independent, volunteer group of citizens who advocate for the passage of the Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District referendum in the November general election. To learn more, visit our website at www.YESforOCschools.org

YES for Oak Creek Schools – Jon Jossart, Treasurer