Safety & Security

• • • Adding card reader access to all doors allows for monitoring of who enters the building around the clock.

    • Rekeying the building will negate concerns over loss of keys or who has been assigned keys over time.

Building Improvements

• • • Roof issues are evident as water drainage is observed infiltrating down the exterior of the building and impacting brickwork.

    • Ensuring proper drainage throughout the grounds will protect the school's infrastructure, walkways, and all outdoor facilities. This contributes to a safer environment by minimizing possible weather-related accidents throughout the school year.

    • These repairs to the roof and associated drainage systems are essential for preserving the building's structural integrity and preventing potential damage that could adversely affect the District's overall operational and financial health. 

Technology Systems

• • • The central clock, intercom, and telephone systems have significantly exceeded their anticipated lifespan. These systems are vital for maintaining the daily efficiency of school operations for both staff and students. 

    • The new upgraded systems will seamlessly integrate with advanced technologies like cameras and access control systems. This improvement not only meets the immediate necessity for system upgrades, but also ensures adaptability to future technology advancements without the need for an entirely new equipment purchase.

    • Emergency communication systems will allow for quick dissemination of important information throughout the building and the school community in the event an emergency situation may arise.

    • Continuous upgrades to technology infrastructure in education are essential for staying current, providing quality education, enhancing security, and preparing students for the dynamic challenges of the modern world.

 Learning Environments

• • • Much of the 1993 & 1997 equipment are beyond their average life expectancies and should be replaced.

    • Replacing the 1993 Chiller will bring about significant improvements in indoor air quality, reduce the risk of CO2 levels, and create an enhanced learning environment.

    • Enhancing efficiency will assist the District manage operational costs more effectively in the future.

Operational

Lake Country Schools has a long-standing history of providing an excellent education for all students.  

From an academic standpoint, students in Lake Country Schools routinely score in the top 3 of school districts in the State of Wisconsin and in the top 10 in the nation. Educational rating systems like the US News and World Report and Niche consistently rank Lake Country School near the top of the list for elementary and middle schools.

From a financial standpoint, the District continues to put available funds into areas such as high quality programs, excellent teachers, and lower class sizes to focus on the individual student. Given that the District, like nearly 90% of other school districts in the State of Wisconsin, has continued to see lower enrollments over the last 10 years, the funding to support such a top notch education and service to students and families has not kept pace with the District’s continuing needs. Given that the funding has not kept pace, the District has continued to maintain resource levels through the usage of their fund balance (savings account) to balance the budget each of the last 8 school years. 

The District’s fund balance has been spent down to approximately 5% of the overall budget.  The general rule of thumb is to maintain a fund balance near 20% of the overall budget.  At a 20% fund balance, district’s are generally able to cover short-term deficits for such areas as payroll without having to go out and borrow money.  As well, districts are then able to set aside dollars for long-term facility needs through current fund balance reserves or anticipated savings in the future.  At a 5% fund balance, there is little to no flexibility for covering deficits and if the district depletes it’s fund balance and operates in a deficit spending situation, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction will intervene in the district’s operations.

In order to address the current issues, the District is working through a process to reduce costs at the local level and, at the same time, is asking the community for additional dollars to allow the District to implement these budgetary adjustments over the next seven years.  The district is asking for a stepped-in operational referendum which would infuse increasing dollar amounts each year that will meet the expected and forecasted budget shortfalls that have been developed.  At the same time, the District will look for ways to take any savings and place them back into the fund balance to build the level back up to a much more suitable percentage like the 20%-25% standard.