The April 1, 2025 spring election will carry an important question for citizens living in the Arrowhead school district. Appearing on the ballot alongside questions about the Supreme Court and the Superintendent of Public Instruction, those residing within the Arrowhead School District will have to decide whether or not they wish to pay an additional $136.2 million in funding for Arrowhead High School. The referendum will appear on the ballot as follows:
Shall the Arrowhead Union High School District, Waukesha County, Wisconsin be authorized to issue pursuant to Chapter 67 of the Wisconsin Statutes, general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $136,200,000 for the public purpose of paying the cost of a school building and facility improvement project consisting of: construction of additions and renovations to the current North Campus building to consolidate into one high school building; demolition of the current South Campus building; site and athletic facility improvements; and acquisition of furnishings, fixtures, and equipment?
⬜ Yes
⬜ No
The Arrowhead School Board unanimously voted to present the referendum as written above after deliberation over the exact amount of money required for the project.
According to the Arrowhead School District, the approval of the referendum would address several of the high school’s needs. To do so, the proposed plan would include tearing down the south campus building at the high school. The entire student body would then be consolidated into the north campus building, which would be expanded and improved upon.
The district has claimed that there are pressing concerns about the safety and efficiency of the present two-building structure. The use of two buildings allows for higher safety risks due to the difficulties with students traveling between buildings and the additional entranceways onto the campus. According to students, the walk between buildings can take up to eight minutes. The new plan would also more safely restructure the parking lot area surrounding the school. The referendum would also allow for many of the aging spaces on campus to be updated. The district has particularly cited improvements for the science, technology, engineering, arts, and math departments. The classrooms would be altered slightly to allow for better utilization of the space.
Overall, the goal of the project is to be as efficient as possible. Initially, the School Board had proposed a series of updates that would cost $261.2 million. That initial referendum was rejected in the November 2024 election, so the new referendum aims to present a more manageable number and give those within the district more bang for their buck. The new $136 million plan will include secure entrances, additional classrooms, and a renovated cafeteria and pool.
Despite the smaller price point, some residents are still hesitant about the proposal. In an estimate prepared by Robert W. Baird & Company, the cost to taxpayers would be about $102.00 per year for every $100,000 in property value. When the previous referendum vote on the $261.2 million failed with a ‘No’ vote of 58.5%, the School District shifted to become more transparent about the operation and helped conserve some of the spending that certain voters deemed excessive.
