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Exciting Improvements Coming This Summer!
The East Troy Community School District is thrilled to announce that Phase 1 of our capital referendum projects is set to begin! Thanks to your support, we are moving forward with critical infrastructure upgrades at Prairie View and the Middle School. Here’s what to expect during the first phase, scheduled from June – August 2025.
Prairie View Elementary School
Secure Entry:
- A fully enclosed and safety-rated entryway to enhance security.
- A new service window and a secondary access point for controlled visitor entry.
- Updated aesthetics including a new entry logo mat, solid surface visitor service counter, and a possible new paint scheme.
Windows:
- Replacement of original, aging windows with new, energy-efficient, and safety-enhanced designs.
- Features include thermally insulated glass, improved visibility, and industry-standard materials to reduce heat and cold loss.
Roof Replacement:
- Removal of the outdated built-up roofing system.
- Inspection and repair of insulation layers.
- Installation of a 60-mil EPDM membrane, increasing the building’s thermal efficiency significantly.
Gym Wall Repair:
- Resolving long-standing water infiltration issues.
- Installation of a modular metal wall system with a proper vapor barrier to prevent moisture issues.
Chiller Replacement:
- New, energy-efficient chiller with improved control capabilities.
- Uses updated refrigerant and enhances cost-effectiveness.
East Troy Middle School
Roof Replacement:
- Similar to Prairie View, the Middle School’s aging roof system will be replaced with a high-efficiency EPDM membrane.
- Expected to last up to 30 years with a manufacturer warranty.
Site Work & Traffic Flow Improvements:
- A newly designed traffic pattern to enhance safety for students, parents, and staff.
- Separate entrances for buses and parents.
- Extended student drop-off sidewalks and improved pedestrian access.
- Ongoing consultation with stakeholders to finalize the best design.
Next Steps
The School Board will review and approve contractor bids on March 17, 2025. Once approved, work will begin immediately after school concludes for the summer.
We are excited about these much-needed improvements and appreciate the community’s support in making them possible! For more information, view the February 17th board presentation here >
Stay tuned for updates as we move forward!
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On Tuesday, November 5, voters in the East Troy Community School District approved a $19.4 million capital referendum.
As a result, the district will move ahead with facility improvements at Prairie View Elementary, East Troy Middle School and East Troy High School. Key areas of focus will include critical maintenance projects, safety and security improvements, middle school science classrooms/labs, and asphalt replacement at the bus garage.
“We want to thank our community for the support of this capital referendum,” said Dr. Chris Hibner, Superintendent. “We are incredibly pleased that our community recognizes the importance of addressing our most critical needs for the betterment of our schools and students. I know I speak on behalf of the Board of Education in thanking the community and all the people who have been directly or indirectly involved in helping to develop this solution and ensuring our community members were informed throughout the process.”
According to preliminary results, the proposed capital referendum received approximately 52 percent voter support.
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Meeting the Facilities Challenge: A Call to Action
East Troy school facilities are at a crossroads. Our schools face significant facilities needs that require immediate attention. Building systems that have reached and exceeded their expected life and in need of repair or replacement, middle school science classrooms that need to be updated, and the need for secure entry at the Middle School and Prairie View.
Based on feedback from a community advisory group, and a community-wide survey, the Board determined to address the most critical needs while balancing the tax impact. In addition, wherever repair to equipment is cost-effective, that solution will be used. It is the Board of Education’s intention to asphalt the bus garage site, and if funds are available at the end of the project, address other critical needs at this site.
That’s what’s in this referendum plan.
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- Middle School secure entry & traffic flow (including student drop-off reconfiguration)
- Prairie View secure entry
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Prairie View projects include:
- Secure entry
- Critical mechanical equipment
- Roof replacements
- Window replacement
- Upper gym wall repair
Middle School projects include:
- Secure entry
- Traffic flow improvements (including asphalt/concrete replacement/addition to improve student drop-off procedures)
- Roof replacements
- Science lab improvements
High School projects include:
- HVAC replacements & repairs
- Roof replacements & repairs
District
- Bus garage asphalt
- Bus garage site repairs (It is the Board of Education’s intention, if additional funds are available, to complete other critical projects at the bus garage and site.)
An approved referendum will address essential replacements or repairs to several building systems - like roofs, heating and cooling units, and safe entry sequences.
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Middle School Science Lab Improvements
An approved referendum will allow the District to address the outdated science area in the Middle School. This project will create lab spaces that allow students to safely and effectively participate in hands-on experiments and discovery.
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Why Now?
More is needed, but we heard you: Survey results told the district to ask only for the essential and most critical needs. Without a referendum, the time has come when avoiding reductions to programs can no longer take priority over fixing our buildings. This referendum is essential if the residents want the schools to continue the excellent education that families of this District value.
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East Troy Community School District does not have sustainable, predictable, stable funding within the state-established revenue limits. Thus, large-scale facility repairs/replacements have been deferred and cannot be paid out of a limited building and grounds annual operational budget. While we are proud of the preventative maintenance plans and efforts at addressing some facility project needs each year, and recognizing the employees within the building and grounds department work extremely hard, there are more large scale projects that cannot be addressed.
After thorough discussion and consideration of community input from the Citizens Facilities Advisory Committee (CFAC) and a community-wide survey, the Board has decided to move forward with a capital referendum in 2024. While maintaining operational priorities and controlling the tax impact remain crucial, the Board recognizes the need to address high-priority facility needs related to critical maintenance projects, safety and security, and academic learning spaces. In addition, the Board recognizes the impact of costs if these projects were to be done at a later time. Given these considerations, the Board will focus on a single referendum question of $19.4 million for capital improvements that has an estimated property tax impact of 21 cents per $1,000 of equalized property value if the capital referendum question were approved. Thus, an annual estimated tax impact of $21 per year on a home with an equalized value of $100,000.
Tax Impact Chart >
Directions: Enter your Fair Market Value (no commas, ex. 150000) and click on Calculate to see your tax estimates.
Shall the East Troy Community School District, Walworth and Waukesha Counties, Wisconsin be authorized to issue pursuant to Chapter 67 of the Wisconsin Statutes, general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $19,400,000 for the public purpose of paying the cost of a school facility improvement project consisting of: capital maintenance, safety, security, renovations, building infrastructure and site improvements at the High School, Middle School and Prairie View Elementary School; improvements to the bus garage and site; and acquisition of furnishings, fixtures and equipment?
In Spring 2022, the East Troy Community School District partnered with Performance Services Inc (PSI), a design/build firm to conduct a facility assessment of our district's four buildings and develop a long-range facilities plan. PSI's initial Maintenance Needs Report identified 113 projects categorized by priority levels. The district began to analyze and prioritize its facilities needs, establishing a 25-member Citizens Facilities Advisory Committee (CFAC). The committee provided its input and feedback to the superintendent, building and grounds director, and the board facilities subcommittee.
The proposed capital referendum on the ballot November 5 is based on the work of the CFAC, the results of a community survey, and other input received throughout the process. This input suggested that only the most critical maintenance needs should be addressed to reduce costs, and that the district should look to repair equipment rather than replace it whenever possible.
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It is typical in school districts, when large-scale projects are too costly for the District to pay out of annual operating funds, that they ask taxpayers to approve a capital referendum. A capital referendum gives the Board of Education the authority to borrow money to pay for large-scale repairs and replacements.
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An approved capital referendum is the only way for the District to borrow enough money to pay for the projects. The term of the borrowing can be for a maximum of 20 years.
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Districts can only borrow an amount up to what voters approve, and the resolution (ballot question) outlines the projects that will be addressed.
A majority of all school districts’ revenue is controlled by the state via a formula called the revenue limit. The purpose of the revenue limit is to cap - or limit - the amount of money a district generates from the two largest sources of school funding (revenue). These sources are state equalization aid and property taxes. However, total revenue may not exceed the limit set by the state formula unless a referendum is approved by the voters.
The District is heavily reliant on the State funding system that has not kept pace with inflation and school needs. In fact, the East Troy Community School District revenue limit has always been lower than most other districts. This is because when the state created revenue limits in 1993, low-spending, frugal districts like ours were locked into a very low limit. In fact, only 15% of the schools in Wisconsin had a lower revenue limit than East Troy in 1993. If East Troy’s revenue limit per member was at the State average in 21-22, East Troy would have had $500,000 more for that school year - a significant impact on the services our school community would experience. If East Troy cumulatively would have had the State average revenue limit per member since 1993, the additional funds would have exceeded 29.4 million as of the 2021-2022 school year.
In the last 16 years, the district has done $10.2 million in balance budgeting efforts which means:
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Changes and reductions in all benefits
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Moderate wage increases
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Making energy efficiency gains
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Restructuring positions and eliminating positions
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Applying for grants and gifts
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Refinancing debt
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Pre-paying debt to minimize interest costs in the long term
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Elimination of programs and service
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Deferred maintenance
Controlled levy increases; responsibly used ESSER funds
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Over the course of the previous nine years leading up to the operational referendum, the tax levy increased by an average of 1.03% per year. In 2023-2024, the East Troy mill rate was $6.79 as compared to $10.42 in 2014-2015.
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The district used the federal pandemic relief funding (commonly called ESSER) to address student and staff safety conditions per the pandemic, HVAC, student learning, and operations over the course of the last few years (funds were also used to help offset the 2022-2023 deficit). ESSER funds are no longer available.
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The district completed the high priority heating and ventilating project at the Middle School which was offset by one-time ESSER funds.
Any eligible Wisconsin voter who wishes to cast an absentee ballot may do so either in-person during the early voting period or by mail. In just a few simple steps, you can officially request your absentee ballot online at MyVote.wi.gov. You may also request an absentee ballot via mail, email, or fax by contacting your municipal clerk’s office.
Your clerk must receive your absentee ballot request no later than 5:00 p.m. on the Thursday before Election Day. However, we recommend making this request as soon as possible so you have time to receive, complete, and return your ballot to be counted.
Completed absentee ballots must be delivered to the municipal clerk’s office no later than 8 p.m. on Election Day (Tuesday, November 5th).
A family survey conducted in the spring of 2024 showed 91% of respondents agree or strongly agree that ETCSD is right to focus on the 6 Cs (creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, communication, content, and curiosity) for learning. In addition, 93% agree or strongly agree that ETCSD should continue to support environments that consider their child’s voice and choice in their learning, and focuses on continual improvement within the learning environment. Furthermore, 87% agree or strongly agree with being satisfied with how much their child learned this past year while 93% agree or strongly agree with the school's support of handling emotional challenges of their child. Finally, 92% rated the district’s communication as great, good or fair with 76% stating great or good. In addition:
- Little Prairie Primary offers instruction in math, language arts, science, and social studies while structuring math and literacy instruction in blocks. In addition, students experience regular rotations of art, music, physical education, SmartLab – mechanics and structures; robotics; circuitry; computer graphics; etc., and visit the library weekly.
- Our Little Prairie Primary received 150 responses from 4K-2nd grade parents in the fall 2022 survey and earned a 97.4% satisfaction score.
- On the most recent 2022-23 State Report Card, Prairie View received a score of “Exceeds Expectations” with a score of 72.4. Prairie View had 87.7 for achievement in Mathematics as well as a score of 71.7 for achievement in English Language Arts. This is above the state average scores of 66.2 for Mathematics and 59.1 for English Language Arts.
- Prairie View offers instruction in math, language arts, science, and social studies. In addition, all students experience music, art, physical education, SmartLab – mechanics and structures; robotics; circuitry computer graphics; etc., innovation lab (maker space), weekly library, and keyboarding on a rotational schedule.
- During the 2023 Southern Lakes Advanced Learners Network Math Meet our 5/6 grade team earned first place and our 7/8 team earned third.
- On the most recent 2022-23 State Report card, our East Troy Middle School received a score of 58.1 for achievement in Mathematics. This is above the state average score of 52.8.
- East Troy Middle School offers core classes in math, language arts, social studies, science, and physical education. Each grade level also has electives, including world language, business education, agriculture, band/choir, computer science, robotics, SmartLab, technology education, and East Troy Alternative Learning (ETAL).
- East Troy High School offers agriculture, art, band, business education, computer science, English, family and consumer science, math, music, physical education/health, Project Lead The Way (PLTW), science, social studies, technology and engineering, world languages, skills academy, ETAL, and East Troy Career Institute (ETCI).
- Additionally, our high school career and technical education department received Regional Career Pathway certifications in construction, digital technology, and business administration/finance. ETHS has also gained a lab specifically designed to help students earn their Certified Nursing Assistant certifications through Start College Now which is offered at East Troy High School.
- Our East Troy High School received a score of “Exceeds Expectations” on the most recent 2022-23 State Report card with a score of 78.4.
- ETHS received a score of 60.9 for achievement in Mathematics. This is above the state average score of 53.
- ETHS received a score of 64.6 for achievement in English Language Arts. This is above the state average score of 61.3.
- 29.7% of our ETHS students successfully completed at least one Advanced Placement course. This is above the state average of 20.1%.
- 68.9% of our ETHS students successfully completed at least one Dual Enrollment course. This is well above the state average of 23.2%.
- 20.6% of our ETHS students earned at least one industry-recognized credential. This is above the state average of 3.9%.
- Our East Troy High School was named one of U.S. News and World Report's Best High Schools for 2024.
- Our East Troy High School has been recognized as a Level II Advanced Placement Pacesetter School for impressive student AP access and excellence in AP exam scores in the State of Wisconsin during the 2020-21 school year.
- Since 2015, our ETHS has earned 33 RVC Conference Championships, 9 Sectional Championships (Team State Qualifiers), 6 Sectional Runner-ups, 2 Team State Championships, and well over 100 individual state qualifiers.
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