Just months after its last facilities referendum failed, the Arrowhead Union High School District is going to the voters again this spring with another facilities referendum, but at a lesser amount.
The Arrowhead School Board unanimously voted Jan. 15 to place a $136.2 million facilities referendum on the April 1 ballot, much less than a $261.2 million facilities referendum that failed last November.
Here’s what to know about the referendum.
What would Arrowhead get with its $136.2 million?
If voters approve, the plan would consolidate Arrowhead High School into one building by renovating and expanding the school’s North Campus building while demolishing the school’s South Campus building, according to the district’s news release.
The district says by renovating and expanding its North Campus building, safety and security would be enhanced due to students no longer needing to travel between its North and South Campus buildings. The school currently is split between two campuses, with ninth and 10th grade students taking most of their classes at South Campus and 11th and 12th grade students taking most of their classes at North Campus. Arrowhead Union High School District Superintendent Conrad Farner told the Journal Sentinel last July that it takes about eight minutes to walk between the two campuses.
“With consolidation comes safer traffic flow, improved communication and responsiveness, as well as the construction of two secure and controlled main student entrances. Fire suppression sprinklers will be installed throughout the building,” the district’s news release said.
The district says the referendum would improve instructional spaces to provide “more engaging and innovative teaching and learning.” Specifically, that would include “small and large group instruction spaces, innovative laboratories, and flexible science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) classrooms.” The referendum would also include renovations to the swimming pool to make it eight lanes, and build a deep end that can handle diving competition, the news release said.
South Campus would be demolished once the North Campus building renovation and expansion is finished.
A preliminary conceptual plan shows that athletic fields could be relocated to the area where South Campus currently stands.
“It is expected that the total number of parking stalls will increase to better accommodate events,” the district’s news release said.
What is the estimated tax impact of the referendum?
If approved, the estimated tax impact would be $1.02 per $1,000 of property value. The owner of a $300,000 home, for example, would pay an additional $306 in school taxes annually.
If approved, when would work on the projects begin?
According to a preliminary timeline, design work would begin in late spring and end in the early summer of 2026. Construction and sitework would start in summer 2026 and is estimated to be completed by the summer of 2029.
What happened with the district’s last referendum?
The district’s last referendum was just this past November.
While voters narrowly approved a $7.6 million operational referendum that will provide funds over four years, they overwhelmingly rejected a proposed $261.2 million facilities referendum that would have built one new high school building.
Contact Alec Johnson at (262) 875-9469 or alec.johnson@jrn.com. Follow him on X (Twitter) at @AlecJohnson12.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Arrowhead District heading back to voters with slimmed down referendum
