What is being proposed in this referendum?

The 2020 referendum would upgrade safety and security at all schools, close Shattuck Middle School, build a new Neenah High School and convert the existing high school to create a grades 7-8 middle school in the Armstrong wing and a grades 5-6 intermediate school in the Conant wing. Moving fifth graders to the intermediate school will create needed space in the elementary schools.

What is the cost of the referendum?

The annual tax impact is estimated at $99 per $100,000 of property for up to 20 years. The total cost of the referendum is $114.9 million.

What is included in the amount for the referendum?

Along with design and construction costs, the referendum basically covers all additional costs the District will incur. This includes site preparation, furniture and other fixtures, athletic fields, parking lots, cost overruns and sewer and water hookups. The amount also includes funding for a traffic study and any potential upgrades to nearby roads. The amount is estimated at a conservative 4.5 percent interest rate, though most school districts are currently borrowing at 3 percent or lower.

How was the referendum question developed?

The question was developed through four community engagement sessions last summer when community members were invited to review six potential long-term master plan "pathways." The proposed plan was preferred by most of the nearly 300 attendees as it had the lowest overall cost and affects the most grade levels in the shortest period of time. The District also surveyed in the community in the fall and the proposed plan received the most support. District administrators at all levels unanimously approved the proposal and the Board of Education unanimously approved it at its December 10, 2019 meeting.

Is the referendum amount going to cover all of the needed projects?

The total cost of the high school construction will be about $157 million. Remodeling of the existing high school to serve intermediate and middle school students and upgrading safety and security across the District will bring the total costs to about $164.5 million. An additional $47 million will be supported through non-referendum borrowing that will be paid from the District's operating budget.

What's next after this referendum?

It's likely that this referendum will take care of about 75 percent of the entire pathway and there would be no need for another referendum. The only part of the pathway not covered in this plan is the renovation of elementary schools and the District may be able to fund these projects through non-referendum borrowing and/or its operating budget in future years.

How did we get to this point with so many needs in our facilities?

In 2009, the annual District budget for facilities maintenance was about $400,000 for all 14 buildings. This has been increased over the years and now sits at about $2.8 million for the 2019-20 school year. Additionally, in 2002, there was a significant change in post-employment benefits through an unfunded liability that placed the District in a challenging position. In 2010, the District created a plan to fund the debt. The debt will be fully funded in July 2020 and, because of this approach, millions of dollars have been saved. Had this not been addressed, the District would be spending more than $10 million each year (over 10 percent of the budget) on retirement benefits. Lastly, there has been no vision or plan for our facilities as updates have been done through a patchwork approach. The pathways presented are a vision for our future.

What will happen to the District's other property holdings?

After closing on the new property purchase, the District plans to sell its 57-acre property at American Drive and Irish Road in Fox Crossing. This land is expected to sell for as much or more than the recently-purchased 225-acre property for the new high school. The District will likely retain its other properties on Pendleton Road and Jacobson Road. 

Where would the new high school be built?

The District is in the process of acquiring 225 acres of farmland on Winchester Road (County II) across from Kimberly-Clark. The land is geographically near the center of the District boundary. It has easy access from County II and highway access from Interstate 41. There also could be access points from Clayton Avenue (via Michael Avenue) to the west and Larsen Road to the south. This is the only District-owned property capable of properly fitting a new high school.

Has the land been officially purchased and are there any environmental concerns?

The Board of Education approved the purchase of the property on February 18 following an extensive environmental study. Tests on excessive noise, air quality, soils and other environmental conditions were performed and all were favorable for building a school on the site. The closing on the site will be in June 2020, regardless of the outcome of the referendum.

Will the new high school property be annexed into another municipality?

The property is currently located in the Town of Neenah, but the landowners are formally petitioning the Village of Fox Crossing for annexation. Fox Crossing will provide sewer and water and emergency services to the new high school. The annexation process is up to the municipalities involved, but both the Town of Neenah and Fox Crossing have been welcoming to annexation.

Why wasn’t a new high school presented as an option last year?

The land where the new high school is being proposed was not for sale last year and there wasn’t a site available within a viable price range that the District felt could fit a high school, both from an acreage and a traffic perspective.

Why do we need a new high school?

This long-term plan is not about what is wrong with the current high school. It is about replacing the 92-year-old Shattuck Middle School, which has been identified as the biggest facilities need in the District. The current high school will be an excellent 5-6 intermediate school and separate 7-8 middle school. The renovation will focus on creating inspiring and flexible learning spaces for all intermediate and middle school students. Students in all grades will have more opportunities 
in the areas of tech ed and shop classes, fine arts and music, as well as in the core academic areas. The existing school is the right configuration to function as two separate buildings.

Some of the highlights of the new high school would be the most current safety and security features, flexible and hands-on learning environments and classrooms and labs designed to support both college and career readiness. State-of-the-art technical education shops for welding, autos, engineering and robotics that will inspire additional partnerships with area businesses and technical colleges. Neenah High School would be the first Fox Valley high school built with a high-tech infrastructure, rather than converting modern technology into an existing building.

When will the new high school open?

The new high school would open in the fall of 2023. No architectural designs have begun for the school yet. This would begin immediately and would incorporate the visions of staff members, students and community. It would likely take over a year and construction would begin in the summer of 2021. The school would take two years to build. Renovations on the current high school would also take place during the summers and fifth through eighth graders would also begin at their new school in the fall of 2023.

Would the new high school come with athletic facilities?

Yes, athletic facilities are included in the cost and plans of a new high school. Athletic facilities are not only used by the students after school, but many of them are part of the daily physical education curriculum as well. Additionally, the high school fieldhouse is booked solid throughout the year and many of our youth teams travel to other cities to practice, sometimes late at night.

A new football/soccer field would be installed with artificial turf at the new school. The lone exception would be the swimming pool, which would remain at the old high school. The swimming curriculum would be shifted to grades 5-8. This is not unusual for districts to have a pool located at a site other than the high school as maintaining two pools is not feasible and the cost to build a new pool would be about $12 million. The new high school would be constructed to potentially accommodate a new pool in the future when the old one needs to be replaced.

What will happen with the athletic fields and facilities at the current high school?

The need for athletic field and facility space is greater than it has ever been. Neenah has many more sports and teams than it did 50 years ago when the current high school was built. All of our sports hold workouts and practices out of their traditional season far more than ever before. Additionally, youth sports have greatly expanded in recent years with teams at first and second grade needing practice space. Many of our elementary gyms and fields are not built to host these types of practices and events, so our kids are forced to practice late at night or in other communities. There is a great need for additional athletic facilities, which this plan provides.

Would the new high school come with a new auditorium?

Yes. A new state-of-the-art auditorium would be built with seating for about 800 people, which is plenty of seating for nearly all District events. Pickard Auditorium seats 1,500 people and would be used for events such as elementary school concerts and the Vintage Finale that draw large crowds. The new high school proposal also includes a 300-seat “black box,” which is a small theater ideal for plays. The black box is not only a great venue for our high school productions, but it also relieves space in the main auditorium during extended periods for set construction and rehearsals. This project does not include upgrades to Pickard Auditorium as that would need to be done through private funding or the District budget.

What will happen with traffic flow at the new high school?

One of the advantages of building a school on an undeveloped property is that the District will have the opportunity to design an efficient traffic flow rather than building in an existing neighborhood and dealing with the established traffic patterns. Early proposals call for a separate bus drop off area in the rear of the school and car pick up and drop offs divided from the parking lots in the front of the school. Three access points to the property will also create efficiencies. Pedestrian walkways will be part of the plan and will connect to the existing pedestrian path along County II.

What will happen with busing costs in this plan?

Busing costs are expected to remain neutral, according to our provider, Kobussen. While more high school students will qualify for busing, the District will gain efficiencies with having to run fewer routes for lower grades. Fifth graders who are now bused to 10 different schools and sixth graders who attend Horace Mann will now all attend the same school. Currently, many students transfer buses and these transfers will be greatly reduced with all students in grades 5-6 and 7-8 at the current high school.

Will Valley Transit provide a route to the new school?

The District has had conversations with Valley Transit and they have indicated interest in providing a route to the new school when it opens in 2023.

How much parking would there be at the new high school?

The new high school plan proposes about 1,200 parking stalls. This is nearly twice as much as the current high school. The new high school also has plenty of space for expansion if additional stalls would be needed.

What would happen to the existing Shattuck Middle School?

The Board has not discussed detailed plans for the existing Shattuck Middle School, as there are several options. If a potential buyer emerges, the District could sell the building and the property. The property would have to be rezoned if it is used for something other than institutional. The building could be demolished and the District could maintain the property or eventually sell it. While it would be ideal to have a firm answer, there are a lot of unknown factors involved at this point. The District is committed to a transparent process that will include community feedback while seeking to balance the needs of the neighborhood, City, and District taxpayers.

Why not remodel Shattuck?

Shattuck has already undergone five remodelings and most have been additions or repairs to the building. The facility has never had a significant overhaul and cost estimates for a full remodel would be in the range of $70 million, which is similar to the cost of a new middle school as was proposed in a referendum last year. The Board of Education held many discussions over the past two years about keeping Shattuck open and has determined the most efficient use of tax dollars is to pursue a new building.

What's going on with the Shattuck auditorium?

The Shattuck auditorium has been closed since December 18 when a when a chunk of heavy plaster fell from the ceiling. Building inspectors, architects and engineers were unaware the original 92-year-old material was deteriorating since it was covered up by a previous renovation. District staff and outside contractors continue to check the entire building for some of these ongoing issues that are difficult to detect due to past projects and renovations.

Additionally, the auditorium has not been used frequently in recent years as it seats about 330 people, which does not support a whole grade level of students. The stage is also too small for productions or concerts, so most fine arts events take place in the gym. The stage is surrounded by brick walls for hallways, so expansion would not be possible. The auditorium had a balcony, but it was removed to build a library on the second floor.

What remodeling would need to be done to the existing high school to accommodate middle school and intermediate school students?

The biggest changes would be in science areas. The science labs are spread over both wings of the building, but not as many labs would be needed in the Conant wing, while more would be needed in the Armstrong wing. Infrastructure would also need to be updated, including secure entrances in each wing and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) upgrades. The technical education area also would need some upgrades. There would be a need for additional cafeteria space, since many juniors and seniors currently don't eat lunch at the high school whereas all students will be eating in a grades 5-8 arrangement. A middle school would not need as much updating as the building would require if it remains a high school.

Would fifth graders be mingled with eighth graders in the same school?

For the most part, no. Neenah High School is a unique design with two separate wings. The Conant wing would become a fifth and sixth grade intermediate school, while the Armstrong wing would become a seventh and eighth grade middle school. The “link” would house classes primarily for fifth and sixth graders. The school would have separate secure entrances, libraries, cafeterias, art rooms and general classrooms. There may be some shared spaces with the pool, fieldhouse, weight room and music areas, but  intermediate students and middle school students would use these areas at different times.

What would happen to Horace Mann?

Horace Mann would likely be converted into a four-section elementary school (four classes at each grade level). Horace Mann underwent a significant remodel in 2002 and is in perhaps the best condition of any District building, so, it would need little remodeling to house elementary students.

Will elementary schools be closed?

With Horace Mann becoming an elementary school and fifth graders moving to an intermediate school, it is possible that some elementary schools could be closed. However, the Board of Education has not had a deep discussion on that topic yet and it would be at least four years before any schools would close. Some factors to consider are if the state expands four-year-old kindergarten to a full day or adds a three-year-old kindergarten option. Both of these changes would require additional classroom space. Also, Horace Mann could be used as a temporary site for some schools while they undergo remodeling, so that could also delay any school closings.

Will safety and security and ADA upgrades be addressed at the elementary level?

Yes, safety and security and ADA upgrades remain among the Board of Education’s top priorities. The most pressing needs for both will be addressed immediately. These projects would be funded by a combination of referendum dollars and the capital maintenance budget.

When will additional elementary upgrades happen?

Along with safety and security and ADA improvements, the District has budgeted $2.8 million in its annual capital maintenance budget. Most of those funds will be directed towards improving elementary buildings should the referendum pass. It may be possible to complete all of these projects in upcoming years without another referendum.

Where is the $47 million District contribution coming from and why wasn’t it part of last year’s referendum?
In 2002, the District and Neenah Education Association negotiated a retirement benefits package with no plan to pay for it. In 2010, the District developed a plan and began taking steps to fund this benefit from its operating budget. The District will make its last payment in July 2020, allowing the District to reallocate up to $5.5 million per year to improve its facilities along with the referendum. The District plans to borrow $47 million to finish the first phase of facilities improvements and pay off that debt at no more than $5.5 million annually.  This amount will be in addition to the $2.8 million the District currently spends on facilities improvements, and will have no additional tax impact.

Instead of reallocating the additional money into facilities, couldn't we save it and reduce taxes?The state funding formula does not allow Districts to reduce spending to save on local taxes. If the District were to not spend the $5.5 million that it previously spent to fund the retirement benefit, local taxes would go down for one year. However, the District's state funding would be reduced in future years and local taxes would increase to make up the difference for the long term.
 
Why don’t you just tax more instead of doing a referendum?
Due to State-imposed revenue limits, the District is only allowed to tax residents to a certain level. The District has spent as much money as it can without going to referendum. The only way the District can receive additional dollars through taxpayers is by passing a referendum. This is different than city or county governments, which can approve additional spending and increased taxes without going through the referendum process.

Why can’t the District just pay for all these improvements through its operating budget?
Having additional dollars available in the budget is a big step, but it’s only enough to supplement the District’s needs. New construction would only be able to be done through a referendum.
 
What is the anticipated tax impact for the referendum?
The anticipated tax impact would be an average of $99 per $100,000 of property value for up to 20 years. This is significantly lower than last year’s average estimated increase of $167 per $100,000 of property value. The number is lower primarily because of an increase in property values throughout the District and a slight increase in student count this year. The District has also been able to maximize its state funding in recent years and decrease the impact on local taxpayers. The increase would apply to all District residents - not just those who live in Neenah or any of the other municipalities.

How will this impact our annual property taxes?
Currently, Neenah's mill rate is the lowest in the Fox Valley and the 16th-lowest in the state among 386 K-12 districts. About 95 percent of taxpayers in Wisconsin pay more in school taxes than Neenah Joint School District residents. Neenah's mill rate is $6.85 per $1,000 of property value, which is the lowest it has been in 30 years. A passed referendum would result in a $7.84 mill rate, which is still below Neenah's 2016-17 mill rate of $8.05 and well below the state average of $9.37.
 
Why is the District’s mill rate so low?
Contrary to what some people may think, the low mill rate is not a result of the District choosing to keep taxes as low as possible. The District is only allowed to tax residents to a certain level and it has taxed to that maximum level in all but one year over the past decade. The District is proud that it’s been able to maintain such a low mill rate for local residents, but it’s happened primarily because the District is debt-free (unlike any District that has recently passed a referendum) and because it has spent the most money it can within the state revenue formula which has maximized its state funding. This, in turn, lowers the impact on local taxpayers (the mill rate). The mill rate has also decreased due to increased property values and a slight increase in the student count over the past year. 

How much interest will taxpayers pay on the referendum?
The answer is about $90,000 over 20 years. That may seem incredibly low, but here's the explanation: If the District takes the full 20 years to pay off the referendum, it is expected to result in slightly more than $55 million in interest payments. However, as stated earlier, the more money the District spends, the more it receives in state aid. By spending this additional money in interest and assuming the state aid formula remains at its current level, the District anticipates it will receive about $55 million in additional state aid over the next 20 years. The estimated difference in total payments and additional state aid is expected to be about $90,000.

Why is this being proposed after my taxes just went up in a reassessment?
Reassessments are done by the municipalities in order to balance the tax base and ensure everyone is paying property taxes based on the current value of their property. The school district has nothing to do with a reassessment. Also, not everyone's taxes went up. According to the City of Neenah, about 47 percent of Neenah residents saw a tax decrease during the past year. The City has stated that every Neenah resident paid less in property taxes in 2018 than they did in 2011.