Oconto Falls schedules tour of old middle school

People who want a firsthand look at why the Oconto Falls School District wants to build a new middle school have an opportunity to tour aging Washington Middle School next week.

The district has scheduled a tour of the school, 102 S. Washington St., at 6 p.m. Oct. 5.

Replacing the school and tearing down the old structure are the centerpiece of a $37.63 million referendum question that goes to voters Nov. 8.

A $49.9 million referendum was defeated in April, with a community survey indicating voters backed the new middle school — currently estimated at $35.5 million — but less support for various projects at the district’s other buildings. The new question pares those projects down to providing more secure entrances and some roof replacement and repairs.

The new middle school would be built on a 90-acre parcel of land on the other side of County Road I from Oconto Falls High School and Oconto Falls Elementary School.

Next week’s tour of the old middle school is part of a series of efforts to get the word out about the referendum, Superintendent Dean Hess said during the school board’s Sept. 19 meeting.

Hess and other school officials have secured time in front of civic organizations, town boards and city councils during the months of September and October to explain the need.

The property tax rate is slated to go down this year, in part because of an increase in the valuation of property in the district. If approved, it’s estimated that the mill rate would be reduced about $37 on property valued at $100,000, Hess said.

He added that if the referendum were to fail, the mill rate would go down by $262.

“Of course, if it doesn’t pass, we still have the same needs, Hess said.