VOTING INFORMATION Visit www.ashland.k12.wi.us/referendum (and click on voter information) for polling locations, voter registration, absentee voting, and other important voter info.

BALLOT LANGUAGEShall the School District of Ashland, Ashland and Bayfield Counties, Wisconsin be authorized to issue pursuant to Chapter 67 of the Wisconsin Statutes, general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $34,360,000 for the public purpose of paying the cost of a school building and improvement program at all District facilities and grounds consisting of: additions for classrooms and learning space; remodeling and modernization of facilities; energy efficiency and management system upgrades; technology, safety and security improvements, including secure main entrances; construction of a new field house; parking and site improvements; and acquiring furnishings, fixtures and equipment?

q Yes q No

Dear Families of the Ashland School District:Ashland schools are on a journey to continuously improve our service to students, families and the community. Our commitment to service includes working to inspire all students to see a healthy and prosperous future for themselves and their families. As part of this journey, the District is proposing a large facility project. The project is designed to improve education and meet many student and community needs.

Our facility project includes redesigned classrooms that support active learning. This will make education more relevant and improve students’ problem solving and collaboration skills; skills that are highly valued by today’s employers. Improved educational technology will increase the engagement of students in rigorous academic work. The facility project creates spaces for community providers to work directly with students and families to support health and wellness.

The project also aims to build pride in students by sharing our local arts and cultures within the school buildings. The proposed field house can support community wellness, allow for improved athletic training, and creates opportunities to host local and regional events.

We thank you for taking a few moments to review this informational pamphlet describing our proposed facility project. The community will have the opportunity to vote on this referendum project on April 5th.Sincerely,

Jessica PergolskiAshland School Board President

Dr. Keith HiltsAshland School District Superintendent

REF

EREN

DU

M 2

016

NE

WS

LET

TE

R

Creating SpaceS Where StudentS Thrive

www.ashland.k12.wi.us/referendum

WHAT ARE THE NEEDS?$34.36 M Referendum

Results of the Facility Study, Community/Staff Listening Sessions, Community-Wide Survey, and recommendations

from the CAC identified the following needs.

ImproveLearning Spaces

• Creating engaging spaces where students love to learn• Add updated and collaborative layouts• Dedicated space for charter schools, special education and mental health programs

Protect the Community’s

Investment• Provide healthy, safe, and secure schools• Create single, secure entries for each school• Update energy management system• Complete large-scale maintenance project including roof replacement and windows.• Enhance Wi-Fi access

Enhance arts, cultural, and

technical education• Improve career and technical education spaces • Build an Indian Cultural Center at the high school• Add “Museum in the Schools” concept in all schools

Build a Community Field House

• Build an all season training facility• Increase indoor recreational space for the entire community• Make Ashland a regional hub for recreational events• Create a safe place for students after school and on weekends• Focus on community health and wellness

Creating SpaceS Where StudentS Thrive

www.ashland.k12.wi.us/referendum

2000 Beaser AvenueAshland, WI 54806

Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage

PAID Permit No. 21

Ashland, WI 54806

Learn Morewww.ashland.k12.wi.us/referendum

khilts@sdak12.net715-682-7080

Attend an Open HouseAshland Middle School 2/25 from 5:00 PM -6:30 PMAshland High School 2/29 from 5:30 PM -7:00 PMMarengo Valley School 3/16 from 5:30 PM -7:00 PMLake Superior Elementary 3/31 from 5:30 PM-7:00 PM

THE TIME IS NOW!• The District is currently debt free• Interest rates are near historical lows• Construction costs continue to rise• State of WI will reimburse~ 46% of the bond payments*

IMPACTED BUILDINGS• Marengo Valley School• Lake Superior Primary & Intermediate Schools• Ashland Middle School• Ashland High School

ESTIMATED PROPERTYTAX INCREASE

*20 year borrowing. Tertiary aid impact of 46.21%. 3 - phased borrowing. Interest rates of 4.00 - 4.5%. 0% property value growth. Tax rate based on Equalized Property Value.

$34,360,000($1.18 per $1,000 of Property Value)

Over the 2015-2016 Per Year Per Month

$50,000 of property value $59 $4.92

$100,000 of property value $118 $9.83

$150,000 of property value $177 $14.75

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONSThrough the planning and communication process, the District has received various questions including the following:

• Who came up with this plan?

• How will this referendum impact my taxes?

• What will be remodeled and expanded under this plan?

• How will this improve student performance?

• When and where do I vote?

Answers to these and other FAQ are available at:

www.ashland.k12.wi.us/referendumMARENGO VALLEY SCHOOL

LAKE SUPERIOR PRIMARY & LAKE SUPERIOR INTERMEDIATE

ASHLAND MIDDLE SCHOOL

WHAT IS THE TAX IMPACT?

School Board members and District leaders have been planning the District’s finances for a number of years with the knowledge that a facilities referendum may be needed. The goal was to meet long range and program facility needs of the District.

WHAT IS THE SOLUTION?Ashland HighSchool

• Remodel core academic areas to increase collaboration opportunities• Update and remodel Special Education, Art and F&CS departments• Move office to better support a secured entrance• Create a more welcoming commons & auditorium• Build an Indian Educational Cultural Center

$8.5 M

Ashland MiddleSchool

• Build additions and remodel portions of the school• Create collaborative areas where students can work together• Build additions to the Art & Technology Education areas

$3.9 M

Lake Superior Primary & Intermediate School

• Build four additional Kindergarten classrooms• Create an addition to support innovative & collaborative student activities• Move office to better support a secured entrance• Remodel areas to provide areas for pupil services support

$3.4 M

Marengo ValleySchool

• An addition would be built to house a cafeteria, music/art space & expanded gymnasium• Build two additional Kindergarten classrooms• Remodel office area to support a secured entrance and privacy for student health area

$2.4 M

Community FieldHouse

• Improved athletic training facility for students and community• Year round facility available for wellness activities• Will support local and regional events

$12.9 M

District Wide Maintenance

• Roofing replacements (Ashland High School (partial) & Marengo Valley School)• Upgrade & expand district Wi-Fi infrastructure• Upgrade and expand district security & camera system• Install sprinkler system district wide to comply with state building requirements

$3.3 M

HOW DID WE GET HERE?Intense planning began in the spring of 2015 when the School Board hired FJJ to assist the district in completing a Long Range Facilities & Education Planning Process. The following process unfolded:

MAY 2015To start the process the School Board reviewed the following reports that had been in place: Utility Usage Analysis, SDA 2015-19 Long Range Facility Plan, Interior & Exterior Assessment Reports, Roof Survey & Evaluation, Pavement Maintenance Program & Outdoor Site Master Plan Study, Demographic Report andEducational Adequacy Report

MAY 2015 - OCT. 2015A series of twenty-eight Listening Sessions were held seeking input from community, students and staff.

NOVEMBER 2015The School Board formed a 33 member Community Advisory Committee (CAC) composed of a variety of community stakeholders. The CAC, with community and staff input, studiedin detail:• Current enrollment and future population projections• Results from the Facilities Studies• Update on AWARE grant and student mental health needs• Modern teaching and learning spaces• Financial status of the District

DECEMBER 2015 - JANUARY 2016The CAC made a final recommendation to the School Board of the facility needs that should be included in an April 5th referendum. The School Board met several times and reviewed the Committee’s recommendation. On January 18th the School Board passed the resolution for an April 5, 2016 referendum in the amount of $34,360,000 ASHLAND HIGH SCHOOL