Onalaska School District asking voters to approve two funding referendums

ONALASKA, Wis. (WKBT) — The midterms are just over a week away and Onalaska voters can expect to see two questions on their ballot addressing the needs of the School District of Onalaska.

One referendum addresses the operational needs of the district, asking voters to approve a revenue increase for the next five years.

The District’s superintendent said they had to change plans this school year because federal funds were not enough to get by.

“The budgetary needs that have been created through state funding for public education has created a need to go to the local residents to ask permission for operational referendums simply to maintain existing programming,” said Superintendent Todd Antony.

This isn’t the first time Onalaska has voted on an operational referendum.

Residents have approved similar referenda since 2006.

The second referendum is a capital referendum.

Its goal is to help cover the costs of several building projects using up to $75 million.

$25 million will go to improving parts of the high school, like making restrooms and locker rooms more accessible.

$50 million will go to expanding the middle school and giving students a place to go when the bell rings at the end of the day.

“A successful referendum would allow us to move forward with finalizing a partnership with the boys and girls club which would put a fully functioning club in the middle school to serve students in the district,” said Antony.

As of now, there is no Boys and Girls Club in Onalaska.

Kids need to travel to La Crosse, Holmen, or West Salem to go to a Boys and Girls Club.

If you’d like to hear more about the changes that would occur if either referendum passes, go to the School District of Onalaska referendum website.

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