Flambeau Voters Approve Referendum for Facility Improvements!

On Tuesday, April 1, 2025, voters in the School District of Flambeau approved a one-question bond referendum for up to $7.5 million to fund essential facility and learning environment improvements.

Unofficial election results show 900 YES (56.8%) votes and 685 NO (43.2%) votes.

High School Principal / Interim District Administrator Sheri Kopka expressed gratitude for the community’s involvement and support:

“We’re incredibly grateful to our community for supporting this referendum. This investment will enable us to make important health and safety upgrades and address critical building repairs. By working together, we are creating safer, more effective spaces that support our students, staff, and the future of the Flambeau community.”

With voter approval, the district will now begin the next phase of the project, which includes finalizing design and engineering plans. The School District of Flambeau remains committed to keeping the community informed throughout the process, providing regular updates on facility improvements and project milestones.

SAFETY & SECURITY | BUILDING REPAIRS | LEARNING SPACES

The School District of Flambeau calls for an election on April 1, 2025, to authorize general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $7,500,000 for facility infrastructure and learning environment improvements.

TAX IMPACT

RESOURCES

FAQs

WHERE DO I VOTE?

Learn More — Watch the Referendum Video!

BALLOT QUESTION

Shall the School District of Flambeau, Rusk, Taylor, Price and Chippewa Counties, Wisconsin be authorized to issue pursuant to Chapter 67 of the Wisconsin Statutes, general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $7,500,000 for the public purpose of paying the cost of a district-wide school facility improvement project consisting of: capital maintenance, building infrastructure, safety, security and site improvements; and acquisition of furnishings, fixtures and equipment, including for career and technical education?

PROJECT DETAILS

WHAT WILL YOU BE VOTING ON?

The proposed referendum projects focus on critical repairs and basic infrastructure updates to ensure our school remains safe, functional, and accessible.

Safety & Security

Replace the outdated fire alarm system.
Upgrade the intercom, central bell, and clock systems to ensure they meet current standards.

System Upgrades

Upgrade outdated heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.
Replace aging hot water heaters.

Building Repairs

Seal the building envelope and perform tuckpointing to maintain structural integrity.

Career & Technical Education (CTE)

Enhance spaces to better support relevant CTE programming needs.

Facility Updates

Replace and repair main gym doors, including caulking and painting where needed.

Site Improvements

Patch and repair worn asphalt in the parking lot.

Accessibility

Install new ADA-compliant playground equipment.
Replace the playground subgrade and play surface.

Flooring Upgrades

Replace rubber tile flooring in the multipurpose gym.
Install durable epoxy flooring in the high school corridors.

OPEN HOUSE & TOUR

Join us for an exclusive building tour and open house to learn more about the upcoming referendum. This is your chance to hear directly from district leadership, ask questions, and gain valuable insights into the April 1, 2025 referendum. Each event will begin with a brief presentation, followed by a guided building tour and a Q&A session where you can get answers to all your questions.

Wednesday, March 12, 2025

6:00 to 7:00 p.m. // Small Gym

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Monday, March 17, 2025

5:00 to 6:00 p.m. // Small Gym

PHOTO GALLERY

Explore the photo gallery below by hovering over the photo and clicking the arrows on the left or right side.

DID YOU KNOW?

🔎 Click image to enlarge

Steady Decline in Mill Rate

The chart illustrates a decline in the mill rate from $15.23 in 1998 after our last referendum to $5.30 in 2025, highlighting a decrease over the past 26 years. This trend reflects the district's continued efforts to maintain fiscal responsibility and reduce the financial burden on taxpayers.

Low Mill Rate

The School District of Flambeau has one of the lowest mill rates ($5.30) among neighboring districts. State average of $7.09.

🔎 Click image to enlarge

Aging Infrastructure

Built in 2000, our K-12 building has several components— such as air handling units, water heaters, flooring, and more — that have exceeded their expected lifespan and need to be replaced.

Fiscal Responsibility

The School District of Flambeau has operated within its funding levels without requesting additional taxpayer support for 27 years, reflecting a long-standing approach to financial management.

HOW DID WE GET HERE?

The school board developed referendum projects based on stakeholder input, facility needs, and available funding.

⦿
Jun - Aug 2020

Buildings receive a Comprehensive Facility Assessment

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Dec 2020

Large and small group sessions about the programming needs of the building

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Aug/Oct/Nov 2021

Full review of the findings completed with school board

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Summer 2023

Board decided to prioritize the exterior of building. A window and exterior door project was completed utilizing the District's general funds

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Aug - Oct 2024

Buildings were re-assessed and the prioritized items were presented to the School Board

⦿
Dec 2024

Board workshopped items and costs and decided on scope of 2025 bond referendum work

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