GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The Green Bay Area Public School District (GBAPS) moved one step closer towards making improvements to a number of its schools Monday.
The district’s Board of Education voted to approve a $183 million referendum for the November election.
“Now that this decision is made, we’re going to connect with our community at every chance we can get. So, if people want to know more, please invite us,” said GBAPS Board of Education President Laura McCoy.
No changes were made to the referendum during Monday’s vote.
The referendum is broken into two portions. $33 million will be going towards security and safety improvements at schools.
The remaining $150 million will make upgrades to elementary schools taking on more students from locations that are being consolidated — as well as create a new elementary school at the current site of Kennedy Elementary.
This school would include students from Kennedy, Keller, and most of MacArthur elementary schools.
“With school consolidations there have to be some additions to buildings that cost some money up front that will save some money in the long term,” said Board of Education member, Andrew Becker.
The district maintains taxes would not go up if the referendum passes because debt from a previous referendum will be paid off.
“We’re lucky in that we’re going to be able to keep our mill rate flat. In fact, in recent years we’ve been bringing the mill rate down very gradually. So, this won’t change the mill rate,” said McCoy.
Now, it will be up to the voters in November. The school board also says the referendum will save them $5 million in operational expenses annually.
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