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If I vote "no" for the B &S Property, does that void the $88 million referendum?
No. A "no" vote simply means you do not support the purchase of the B & S Property. Voters in the School District of Monroe approved the $88 million facility referendum on Tuesday, November 8, 2022. The official results were 3,741 (54.5%) votes in favor, 3,121 (45.5%) votes against. A new school will be built.
After the delay caused by the lawsuit challenging the referendum which was decided in favor of the School District of Monroe, the District was able to proceed with the Long-Term Bonding process.
The School District of Monroe issued its bonds for the new high school on May 31, 2023. The bonds will be paid off over the next 20 years. The District maintained its A+ rating and issued the bonds as AA insured bonds. The all-in total interest cost, inclusive of issuance costs, had a yield of 4.16%. The estimated cost at the time of the referendum was 4.48%. This means the District will pay $3,136,638 less in debt costs over the life of the bonds than what was projected.
The bonds are estimated to earn $6.3 million which will provide additional funds for the new high school building project.
I am unable to attend the Meeting of Electors on July 17th. Can I vote early or absentee?
No. The Meeting of Electors is a meeting, not an election, and by law, all eligible electors who wish to participate must be present at the time the vote is called to cast a ballot.
Residents may begin registering at 4:30pm. The air-conditioned PAC will also be available for additional voter seating where the meeting will be livestreamed.
Childcare will be available onsite from local community providers.
There will also be designated handicapped accessible parking and registration. Please use the 14th Avenue parking lot entrance for assistance.
Absentee voting is not an option
No one can cast a ballot for a voter who is not present. One ballot can be submitted per person
Once you have your ballot, you can not leave the premises. If you leave, your ballot will not be accepted
You can not vote immediately after registering and leave. You must be present when the vote is called to submit your ballot
Residency requirements will be verified prior to entering the meeting
The registration process to determine individuals are residents of the School District of Monroe is as follows:
Voter will state name and address.
Voter’s name will be verified against the list of registered voters in the School District of Monroe which will be prepared by the County Clerk prior to July 17th. Once verified, they will receive their ballot.
If the voter is not a registered voter, their address will be looked up in Ascent, the land records system, to verify that the address is within the school district.
The voter will be required to sign a statement attesting that they are a U.S. citizen, 18 years of age, and have resided at their current address for at least 28 days prior to July 17th, 2023, and will then be issued a voting ballot.
All qualified voters will receive a mark indicating they have registered and received a ballot.
Business/land owners not residing within the School District of Monroe may NOT vote.
All individuals must be present when the vote is called in order to cast their ballot.
Ballots will be collected in clear tubs and counted in the gym, in view of all in attendance, by pairs of tabulators. Once the tabulators have counted and double-checked, the Board clerk and deputy clerk will count and verify once more.
The Meeting of Electors will take place on July 17th at 6:30pm in the Monroe High School gym. Residents may begin signing in at 4:30pm and you must be present when the vote is called to cast a ballot. For more information click here
Have the cost estimates been updated to include inflationary costs?
Yes. The project costs have been updated regularly and you can find the Executive Summaries dated June 12, 2023, on our website for both building a new school on the B & S property and on the existing high school site. At the bottom of the Executive Summary, it is noted that the summary includes inflationary costs of $6.8 million which will be funded by $6.3 million interest earned on bonds.
At the June 12, 2023, Board of Education meeting, CG Schmidt provided a Total Project Cost Comparison which compares the cost to build a new high school on the B & S site, the existing site, and the previously considered County Hwy DR (Donny) site. Building on the 70-acre B & S property has the lowest total cost at $93,374,231. $226,209 less than the cost to build at the current high school location.
The School District of Monroe will receive 70 acres on which to build our new high school. In exchange, the B & S landowners will receive the approx. 45 acre current high school site, as-is
The land will cost $0 and funds previously budgeted for land purchase can go toward project expenses
Once the new school is built, B & S will take ownership of the existing high school site as-is which will save the District $1,925,176 in demolition and land restoration costs and funds previously budgeted can go toward project expenses
B & S is providing a 66-foot wide easement on their property for the school entrance road to County Road KK, along with a $100,000 donation towards the construction of the road
The District will see approximately $3,250,000 in cost savings that can be applied to the high school building project
It says the Total Project Cost estimate to build the school on the B&S property is $93,374,231. I thought the referendum was for $88 million. Where is the rest of the money coming from?
The School District of Monroe issued its bonds for the new high school on May 31, 2023. The bonds will be paid off over the next 20 years. The District maintained its A+ rating and issued the bonds as AA insured bonds. The District will earn $6.3 million in interest on the bonds which will provide the additional funding. ($88,000,000 referendum + $6,300,000 in bond interest = $94,300,00 available for the project budget)
If we had to build on the existing site, how would it affect students, staff, families, and our community?
We believe there will be a significant negative impact on our students and staff at both the high school and Abraham Lincoln as they attempt to learn/work in a construction environment. We are working hard to improve our test scores, instruction, and curriculum. Almost three years of construction will likely negatively impact our student outcomes for years to come.
During the three years of construction, our students, staff, and community will be impacted by noise, safety issues, delays, distractions, construction debris/dust, etc. In the densely populated neighborhood surrounding the area, street parking will become an issue and roads will be affected since there are no major roads/direct routes to the construction site from Hwy 69.
As a District, we believe all extra-curricular activities are an extension of the learning environment. For many students, participation in extra-curricular activities is an incredibly important part of their school experience and positively affects their mental health and well-being, providing purpose and passion.
Many sports including Football, Boys and Girls Soccer, Track, Baseball, and Boys and Girls Tennis will need to relocate their practices and competitions at some point during the construction timeline as the new school building will need to be built behind the current facility where the football field, track, and tennis courts are currently located. We will need to find alternative sites for practices and competitions, our practice and game times will be dictated by availability, and students will need to be bused to alternate facilities which will increase costs. There will be added loss of revenue from home game ticket sales and concessions. In addition, our Physical Education instruction will be impacted by limited outdoor access. These activities would be impacted for approximately 3 years as the new school is constructed, the old facilities are demolished, and new athletic facilities are built.
What land will remain around Abraham Lincoln or is the school part of the land swap?
In January 2020, the School District of Monroe surveyed the community and found that people did not support closing Abraham Lincoln Elementary School. The District is committed to keeping Abraham Lincoln open and $3.4 million of the referendum budget is dedicated to making capital improvements at Abe. The school is home to 4 sections of 4K, the Headstart program, one class each grades K-3, and two classes each of 4th and 5th grade. This year, it also became the new location for our Early Childhood program.
The area in red provides a conceptual idea of what land Abraham Lincoln will retain in the land swap.
What would the financial impact be if we have to bus students to daily practices and away games during construction on the current site? What revenue losses would there be?
Our business office worked with Lamers to estimate the increased cost of transportation to away games and shuttles to daily practices for football, girls and boys soccer, girls and boys tennis, track, softball, and baseball. The estimated cost for each year would be:
Estimated increase in away game busing costs - $37,443/year
Estimated costs for shuttle service to practice off-campus - $450/day for 3 shuttle buses = $2,250/wk. With 11 weeks of Fall practices and 12 weeks of Spring practices, the total estimated cost is $51,750/year
Additionally, without home games, there would be an estimated loss of $36,558 in gate revenue.
Total Estimated Annual Travel Costs and Lost Gate Revenue = $125,751/year
This total does not include concessions revenue lost, fundraising by groups at events, or costs associated with transportation of our dance and cheer teams for games. Concessions are also one of the primary fundraisers for many school clubs and organizations, as well as our sports booster club.
I heard the B&S Property is on a landfill. Where is the landfill located in relation to the proposed school site?
The old City of Monroe landfill is outlined in bright red. This property is owned by the City of Monroe on the GIS. The 70-acre school site, indicated in maroon, will be connected to city water and sewer. One of the contingencies of the land contract to purchase is the completion of environmental inspections, soil sampling, and testing. If the site is found to be unsuitable, the District will not follow through with the land swap.
Why hasn't the School District of Monroe already completed traffic studies and environmental testing, or provided a detailed design for the new high school on the B & S property?
Several actions can not be taken without land purchase approval from the Meeting of Electors, which will take place on July 17th at 6:30pm in the Monroe High School gymnasium.
Much like a home purchase, there are several contingencies that must be met before the contract can be finalized. If the property is found to be unsuitable for the purpose of building a new high school, the District will not proceed with the land swap. Below are a few of the contingencies outlined in the contract:
Within 10 days of approval by the Board of Electors, the land surveyor will identify the north and south boundaries. Within 30 days, the surveyor will deliver the report.
Utility services and infrastructure improvements must meet the intended use
Traffic studies (vehicular and pedestrian) to access the property
Environmental inspections, soil sampling, testing, and engineering studies
Pending all government approvals and permits
Title insurance commitment to be provided
Also similar to a home purchase, it would not be a good use of funds to complete testing and design a building, roads, and facilities for a land site that is not approved for purchase. The cost to satisfy many of these contingencies and begin the design process is in excess of $1 million dollars.
You can read the entire B & S land contract to purchase here
Can't we remodel or reuse the existing high school building? What about the PAC and Gyms?
The School District of Monroe consulted with Quarles and Brady, LLP, Attorneys at Law regarding what authority the language of the November 8th referendum grants the Board of Education and School District of Monroe. In their response, they indicated that the wording of the referendum question prohibits using any of the bond funds or bond proceeds for remodeling or renovation of the existing high school building.
To keep the PAC (Performing Arts Center) and gyms, they would have to be used as standalone buildings and be completely independent of the new school. They would require their own entrances, HVAC system, electrical, sewer, water, etc. No bond funds or proceeds could be used for the renovation. In 20 years, when the bonds have been paid back, the District would then be able to connect the buildings, remodel, and upgrade equipment.
You can watch the entire explanation from the May 24th, 2023 Special Board of Education meeting with Allison Buchanan of Quarles and Brady here
Learn more about the challenges of using the existing site by visiting our website here
Where will the road be from the new high school site to County Rd KK?
The image provided below is a parcel map from MLS (Multiple Listing Service) with the 70-acre property for the new high school indicated in red. Additional property owned by B & S is indicated in yellow. County Road KK is highlighted in green. As indicated in the MLS image, the City of Monroe has previously surveyed the continuation of 8 1/2 Street to County Road KK. The white lines connecting 8 1/2 Street from Northside to Country Road KK are the road surveyed by the City of Monroe. The portion of this potential road noted in blue is a concept indicating where the road to the new high school campus might be located.
This is an example of where the road to the new high school campus may potentially be. This is only a CONCEPT as several contingencies need to be met, including approval of the land at the Meeting of Electors, before the design phase can begin and the actual location of the road can be determined. The road will be on B & S Property and will not cross any other landowners' property.
To view more information about the B & S Property, including Total Project Cost Estimates, Costs Comparisons between other sites considered, and a conceptual rendering of the new school on the site, please visit our website.
How will the land swap work?
As discussed at the June 12, 2023, Board of Education meeting, the forward-thinking B & S property owners understand the importance of this building project for our community and the importance of providing modern educational spaces for our students. In an effort to lower project costs, they have offered a land swap - the School District of Monroe will receive the 70-acre B & S property on 31st Avenue in exchange for the existing site and high school facility "as is". The land cost will be $0. This will also save the District $1,925,176 in demolition costs for the existing building as well as allow the funds previously allocated for land purchase can be put toward other project expenses. The B&S Property owners will also provide a 66-foot wide easement for road access from County KK to the new high school campus and a $100,000 donation towards the construction of the road. This is a savings of approximately $3,250,000 in project costs that can be reallocated to other project expenses. The District will maintain the old high school property until the new high school is completed and the B & S property owners assume ownership. All needed District outdoor assets and personal property will be relocated to the new high school. Additional property benefits include:
Property owners will provide a 66-foot wide easement for road access from County KK and a $100,000 donation towards the construction of the road
Located near city water, sewer, utilities, and technology infrastructure
Close to Northside Elementary School
Does not cross any major roads
70%-75% of the property has an elevation change of 20 feet or less
Large enough to have most of our school-sponsored extra-curricular activities on-site
Large enough to accommodate future needs in the event there is growth or needed space for other district facilities
Large enough to plan for on-site traffic flow during morning, afternoon, and for special events
Closer access to Hwy 59, Hwy 11, and County KK
What are the qualifications of our construction partner CG Schmidt?
CG Schmidt was founded in Wisconsin in 1920. They have a $1 billion bond capacity and have never been in a lawsuit with a client or architect. They have worked on several projects in Green County and Monroe and are committed to keeping the "Green" in Green County. They have been engaged with the district since 2017 and completed the renovation projects at Parkside Elementary (2018) and Northside Elementary (2022). Other local projects include:
Monroe School District Phase I, II & III
Monroe Arts Center
Fowler Dental Clinic Phase I & II
Baumgartner's Cheese Store
Stateline Ice Arena (SLICE)
Pleasant View Nursing Home
Old National Bank – Monroe
SSM Health Monroe Hospital & Clinic *Additions & Various Renovations
SSM Health Monroe - Albany Clinic
SSM Health Monroe – New Glarus Clinic
SSM Health Monroe Hospice Home
Green County YMCA
In addition, they are committed to competitive and local bidding.
Extensive network of local subcontractors
Actively reach out to encourage participation, solicit bids for every work category
Break down key bid packages for early bidding and buy-out
Leverage strong subcontractor and vendor relationships to secure better numbers
Hold subcontractor engagement sessions to clarify project details, eliminate scope gaps in bidding
Present bids with our recommendation and full back-up to the school board to ensure transparency
CG Schmidt has built more than 20 schools in the state of Wisconsin and have never exceeded Referendum Budgets.
