September 29, 2011 at 4:08 p.m.
Since you asked....
By Dodgeville School Superintendent Diane Messer-
Even though the November building referendum is limited to the Dodgeville Elementary School, the school board had also factored the needs at the high school into its referendum planning. They reviewed two types of space solutions for the high school including 1) remodel and additions to the present DHS building or 2) building a new high school adjacent to the middle school. Initial conceptual drawings have been prepared and the board continues to carefully consider the trade-offs of the remodel/addition option versus new construction option. Additionally, the board intends to work with staff and community members to update the district strategic plan as a guide for future instructional, safety, and community needs. The board plans to bring forward a DHS plan as a referendum over the next few years.
In addition to determining which construction option to pursue, the school board is also focused on the tax impact a much larger project would have on the tax levy at this time. The DES project has been designed so that we can bring forward an $8,000,000 referendum now to address the space and safety issues in that building. Given the low interest rates currently available, we can borrow this amount and not raise the debt levy. The goal is to start the new project at the same time the final payment of approximately $666,000, on the middle school project occurs in May 2012. If a new high school were built, it would be in the $30-40,000,000 range depending on the option pursued. The annual debt payments would increase well beyond the $666,000 that the retirement of the DMS bond would cover. The Elementary School addition and remodeling proposal will remain in this range. The school board feels this is the most affordable option to pursue in the present economy.
