Sturgeon Bay School Announces $16.84 Million Facilities Referendum

The Sturgeon Bay School Board voted unanimously to place a question on the April 7 ballot asking voters to approve a $16.84 million facilities referendum to address safety, security and high-priority capital maintenance across the district, and to update career and technical-education classrooms and labs to expand high-quality programs and hands-on learning opportunities. 

If approved, the plan would increase taxes by $1.47 per $1,000 of home value, or $147 for a home value of $100,000. 

The board’s plan includes closing Sunset Elementary School, which serves children in 4K and kindergarten. If voters approve the measure, a four-classroom addition would be constructed at Sawyer Elementary School. 

“Reconfiguring our elementary schools will allow us to retire one of our oldest buildings and maximize the use of our newest building,” said Dan Tjernagel, district administrator. 

A community survey in the fall showed that 75 percent of respondents support closing Sunset School. 

Other projects to be completed under the plan include creating a secure entrance at the high school to control visitor access by relocating the main office, district-wide ADA improvements, and changes to traffic patterns at the high school and middle school to increase safety. 

“Our community is proud of and supportive of our schools, our teachers and staff, and, of course, our students,” said school board President Teri Hooker. “A combination of factors, including a solid economy and low interest rates, make this a responsible time to take this project to our residents.”

Sturgeon Bay follows Gibraltar, Southern Door and Sevastopol in going to voters for major facilities upgrades. The county’s other three mainland schools approved referenda in 2018. 

For more information, visit the facility referendum page under the District menu option on the Sturgeon Bay School District website.