Dear Community Members:

Three years ago, 250 community members signed a petition asking the District to explore additional facility updates. Since that time, the district has been engaged in long range facility planning that included a thorough facility study as well as gathering extensive community feedback via community listening sessions and two community surveys.

The needs that were prioritized by the community were as follows:

• Space to accommodate capacity challenges at the elementary school
• Adequate classroom spaces for primary students (4K-2)
• Updated and expanded Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts/Agriculture, and Math (STEAM) shops and classrooms
• Renovations to address aging rooftop heating and ventilation units and aging flooring, doors, and lighting at the elementary school
• Improved traffic flow for drop-off and pick-up at all buildings

Fortunately, we have been fiscally responsible and have been paying off debt, while still

keeping the tax rate the same for 9 years in a row. Paying off debt ahead of schedule has

saved taxpayers over $1 million in interest, and also allows us to finance solutions to the

needs outlined above without raising the tax rate.

Based on the community feedback and current fiscal situation, the Board of Education

voted unanimously to put a referendum question on the April 2021 ballot. This newsletter

shares information about the upcoming referendum.

Thank you for taking time to learn about the upcoming referendum. If you would like to

learn more, please plan to attend one of our upcoming community referendum meetings

or contact me at (608) 527-2410 or referendum@ngsd.k12.wi.us.

Sincerely,
Dr. Jennifer Thayer, Superintendent