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District outlines referendum project designs and Karl Traeger traffic study; site work targeted for summer 2026
Summary
Administration said elementary‑school projects from the 2025 referendum have moved into the design phase, traffic studies are underway for Karl Traeger and other sites, and mechanical design work for air‑conditioning and multiple roofing and facility projects are planned; officials said community input will guide final plans.
District administrators briefed the school board on May 14 about progress turning the 2025 referendum into construction projects, saying several elementary schools are now in the design phase and that work on traffic solutions at Karl Traeger will proceed in coordination with the city.
District administrator Conrad Peters said the referendum website will be updated in early June to transition into “phase 2” project updates and that the first family of projects—Karl Traeger, Franklin and Oakwood elementaries—has entered the design phase. She said Karl Traeger’s traffic study included an April 22 community meeting with approximately 20 attendees and neighborhood‑association participation.
Peters said the district and city will continue collaborating on the Karl Traeger traffic plan and that officials anticipate site work to address traffic will occur in the summer of 2026. She said similar traffic studies will be completed for Franklin and Oakwood as those projects move from planning to design.
Administrators also reported that mechanical design work has begun on air‑conditioning projects at Emeline Cook (eCook), Lakeside and Reed elementaries and that the district has retained a mechanical design contractor. Facilities director Mike Fox summarized the district’s larger planned summer capital projects—roofing at West High School science wing, Oak Lawn and Lakeside; fieldhouse upgrades at North High School; and exterior work at Reed Elementary’s library wall—while noting the list is not exhaustive.
Fox described an additional facilities investment: both high schools will receive video‑board scoreboard upgrades this summer. He said the district has contracted with Daktronics for the equipment and software and intends to give students hands‑on training so they can operate the boards for games and events; the district also plans to offer students work experiences with the Wisconsin Herd, which uses similar equipment.
Why it matters: The session moved several referendum items from planning to active design and identified a community‑informed timeline for traffic mitigation at Karl Traeger. Administrators emphasized ongoing community engagement and that the projects will require coordination with city traffic authorities and neighborhood groups.
Clarifying details: The transcript records an April 22 community meeting on the Karl Traeger traffic study with roughly 20 community members present. Administration said anticipated site‑work timing for the Traeger traffic solutions is summer 2026. The district said air‑conditioning design work and roofing projects have started or are being scheduled, and that design teams include principals and affected staff. No construction contracts were awarded at the meeting, and no final construction bids or dollar totals were announced.
What’s next: Administration plans to post regular, archived project updates on the referendum page starting in early June. Traffic‑study results and finalized plans for Karl Traeger will be coordinated with the city and returned to the board as they are finalized.
