Phase III referendum approaching

March 22, 2018

By David Nordby The Brillion News

BRILLION – On Monday, the Brillion School District offered a public informational meeting about the upcoming April 3 Phase III referendum. Just two community members showed up. One of them was Brillion Mayor Gary Deiter.

The district is looking for approval to move forward with $5.6 million worth of updates to the elementary/middle School. It is the third and final phase of a construction project that was first presented in 2008.

“This building is definitely in a better place than it was 10 years ago,” Brillion Superintendent Dominick Madison said.

After a 2008 referendum did not pass, the school completed the first two phases in 2010 and 2014 following the passing of referendums. Madison said this will be the final phase of the building after the question was posed by Deiter if another need for construction could arise in the district. Madison says both district buildings, outside of regular maintenance, should not need major renovations.

“We’ve kind of said from the get go this is a three phase [project],” Madison said. “That message has been consistent the last few years … We’ve got the high school, even though it’s almost 20 years old, is in pretty good shape. I don’t think in 10 years you’re going to see that thing collapse if we maintain it.”

Even with approval from the community, taxes will stay the same for Brillion residents. A loan on the high school will be paid off to coincide with the beginning of the final phase. A no vote from the community would mean taxes are lowered.

Bray Architects Associate Architect Clinton Selle, who is working with the school on the project and was present Monday, says that the elementary/middle school building is unique because of how additions have been added on over the last 50 years. The actual construction that would take place in Phase III is not unique though.

The primary upgrades include the HVAC systems, support for electrical and plumbing, lower level renovations where the wrestling room is currently including new locker rooms, roof repairs and updates to classrooms. Two elevators are already in place in the building that both reach the lower level where wrestling practice is held.

“This is pretty much an infrastructure referendum,” Madison said. “You’re not going to see any difference in our footprint here at all.”

After Phase III, all roofs in the building will be less than 20 years old. The steel roof at the high school is built to last a long time, Madison said.

Please see the complete story with additional updates from the board in the March 22, 2018 edition of The Brillion News.