WAUWATOSA, Wis. — The Wauwatosa Board of Education unanimously approved adding two referendum questions to the Nov. 2024 ballot on Monday. Those two questions could bring the school district $124.4 million combined.
The first question to appear on the ballot will be:
“Shall the Wauwatosa School District, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, be authorized to exceed the statutory revenue limit by $16,100,000 per year beginning with the 2025-2026 school year and ending with the 2028-2029 school year, for non-recurring purposes consisting of funding operational expenses, including salaries, benefits, and instructional and co-curricular programming?”
The school board explained that this question asks voters for $64.4 million over the course of four years for district operations. The school board said $4 million of this funding would go toward curricular materials, $8 million would go toward higher educator compensation and $52.4 million would go toward “operational shortfalls” during four consecutive school years.
The school district has a projected funding gap of $9.3 million for the 2024-25 school year. This money would help cover that as well.
The second question to appear on the ballot will be:
“Shall the Wauwatosa School District, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, be authorized to issue pursuant to Chapter 67 of the Wisconsin Statutes, general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $60,000,000 for the public purpose of paying the costs of school building and facility projects consisting of: deferred maintenance and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) facilities standards capital projects at Eisenhower, Madison, Roosevelt, Jefferson, and Washington Elementary Schools, and Montessori/Fisher and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) facilities standards capital projects at Wauwatosa East and Wauwatosa West High Schools?”
The school board explained this question asks voters for $60 million over 20 years. The school board said this would enable the district to “address all deferred maintenance” at the following schools:
- Eisenhower Elementary School
- Madison Elementary School
- Roosevelt Elementary School
- Jefferson Elementary School
- Washington Elementary School
- Wauwatosa Montessori School/Fisher
The school board also said this funding would be used to ensure that Eisenhower, Madison, Roosevelt, Jefferson, and Washington Elementary Schools, Montessori/Fisher and Wauwatosa East and West High Schools met facility standards under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Specifics on deferred maintenance, ADA assessments and other remodeling projects that would be supported by referndum funds can be found, here.
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