Freedom Area School District

December Progress Report

November Progress Report

November Progress Report

The Question

Shall the Freedom Area School District, Outagamie County, Wisconsin be authorized to issue pursuant to Chapter 67 of the Wisconsin Statutes, general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $62,500,000 for the public purpose of paying the cost of a school building and facility improvement project consisting of: construction of additions and/or renovations at the Middle-High School, including for technical education, music education, classrooms/labs, safety improvements, a cafeteria/kitchen and a fitness center; construction of a greenhouse for agriculture education; district-wide capital maintenance and site improvements; and acquisition of furnishings, fixtures and equipment?

YES NO

Facilities Planning

The Need

The middle-high school (which was originally built in 1941 and updated/expanded several times between 1956 and 2022) has major building systems that need components replaced and classroom/academic support spaces that need to be updated. Additionally, the elementary school is over capacity. These needs are outlined in greater detail below.

Tech Ed, Music Ed & Cafeteria

The technical education (“shop”) labs are too small, poorly configured, and lack equipment to prepare students for jobs in our region.
The music department is too small, inefficiently located in the basement, and does not have proper acoustics.
The cafeteria/kitchen is too small creating scheduling challenges, lacks natural light, and needs improved ventilation being located next to the fitness area.

Classrooms & Labs

The art rooms are too small, do not have appropriate storage, and lack natural light.
The library is not designed to support technology and student group work/staff collaboration.
Science labs are too small and do not have enough storage.
The greenhouse is small and outdated.
The weights and fitness area is too small to support physical education, athletics, and community use and lacks appropriate ventilation.
Storage rooms throughout the building are used for offices or meeting areas.
Many classrooms and lab spaces lack windows/natural light.

Building Systems & Infrastructure

Portions of the building’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system (including air handling units and boilers) have exceeded their expected service life.
Components of the plumbing, electrical, and life safety systems are old and need to be replaced.
Classroom and corridor flooring, ceilings, and paint are aging and worn out.
Toilet rooms in the oldest parts of the building are aging and in need of updates.
The pick-up/drop-off area is congested with buses and cars, which is a safety concern.

Elementary School

The elementary school is over capacity resulting in:
- A lack of adequate classroom space for modern learning environments and teaching needs.
- Special education programming housed in undersized spaces.
- Music is being taught in the cafeteria, which is not equipped acoustically and creates logistical challenges.

The Solution

Building Systems & Infrastructure

Portions of the building’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system will be replaced including all pre-1980 and 1990 air handling units (AHU), the 1990 condenser, and all boilers.
Components of the electrical, plumbing, and fire alarm systems will be repaired/replaced.
Classroom and corridor finishes will be updated as needed.
Windows will be added to several areas of the existing building.
A ramp will be added to improve the accessible route to the agriculture classrooms/labs and the dome gym.

The Investment

Financial Background

The district strives to be good stewards of tax dollars. As a result, FASD is in a strong financial position and is referendum debt-free. In 2022-23, our portion of the local property tax mill rate was 47% lower than it was 10 years ago, and the lowest of any school district in our conference.

Due to changes in the recently approved state budget, the 2023-2024 mill rate is $5.25, which is the 27th lowest mill rate among K-12 school districts (368) in the state.