The Onalaska Middle School ASB holds a meeting in May 2015.
The Onalaska School District Board of Directors has unanimously approved a resolution to place a $7.25 capital construction bond on the ballot for the February 2018 election.
The project would include the construction of four new classroom additions to the Onalaska Middle School, a new STEM — science, technology, engineering and mathematics — building at Onalaska High School, and a new maintenance and records retention building to be located on the Onalaska School District campus.
The school board approved the resolution to move forward with the bond at an October meeting.
The Onalaska Facilities Task Force, which is comprised of community members and school board members, met over a period of seven months to discuss the bond proposal. The committee ended up recommending the three projects to place before voters for approval, according to the release.
The project is estimated to cost taxpayers 96 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value based on the latest property values in the district’s attendance boundaries.
The last time the district placed a capital construction project before voters was in February 2003. The funds were used for capital improvements at the high school.
“At this point in time, there will be no matching funds from the state as the legislature has yet to pass a capital construction budget, which helps school districts offset the costs of construction,” stated the release.
Bonds need to be approved with 60 percent, or a supermajority, vote.
More details on the bond will be presented once plans are finalized with construction consultants and architectural drawings are completed, stated the release.
