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Wilmot UHS previews possible capital referendum, eyes federal grants for geothermal and upgrades
Summary
District leaders said they are preparing a proposal for a potential capital referendum next spring, with a January deadline to pass a resolution if they proceed; staff will estimate tax impacts and explore Inflation Reduction Act grant opportunities for geothermal and related school upgrades.
The superintendent of Wilmot UHS School District reported that, after an operational referendum failed, district leaders tightened spending and are now preparing for a possible capital referendum next spring. She said meetings with stakeholders and consultants — including Betts, Nelson, Jeff Megan and Hans Noel from Nexus — have helped shape a project list that will be re-costed and prioritized.
The superintendent told the board there is a “date in January that would be the latest that we can pass a resolution” to place a referendum on the ballot, and that staff would present a proposal for the board to review once tax-impact estimates and timelines are available. “Dan's gonna determine preliminary tax impact numbers,” she said, and Jeff will “put together a timeline.”
The district will also explore federal grant opportunities tied to the Inflation Reduction Act to support geothermal or other energy projects, the superintendent said, noting the district will evaluate whether any such programs are feasible and appropriate for school-based installations. Board members and other speakers referenced prior projects in which schools installed solar panels and paired them with student programs; those efforts brought loans, tax credits and grants in some cases, but also required ongoing upkeep and operational oversight by the district.
The superintendent said she plans to review proposed upgrades — including consumer-science kitchens and technology-education facilities — to determine whether proposed scopes still meet current needs or should be adjusted. She emphasized that preliminary tax numbers are not yet set and asked board members to avoid thinking in terms of “millions” until estimates are complete.
Next steps: district staff will re-cost the prioritized project list, produce preliminary tax-impact estimates, and return to the board with a draft proposal and timeline that could support a resolution to place a capital measure on a spring ballot.
