Madison District Public Schools 2021 Bond

The November 2, 2021, bond proposal is a comprehensive facilities upgrade program that resolves significant issues at the high school and replaces roofs at three schools.

The highlights of this program encompass four key areas:

• Improvements to address the aging infrastructure of buildings.
• Energy and operational initiatives to improve the environmental quality and efficiency of our buildings, as well as reduce operational expenses.
• Learning environment upgrades to ensure classroom air quality and provide air conditioning.
• Needed roofing replacements at Madison High School, Wilkinson Middle School and the Early Childhood Center.

Key features of the proposed bond program included the following areas:

1. Critical infrastructure upgrades at the High School to correct HVAC, electrical, lighting and piping issues. This will be accomplished by replacing and upgrading the current HVAC system with new boilers, pumps, valves piping, unit-vents with AC, and energy management controls.
2. High School Building roof replacement and needed interior improvements to the classrooms to replace damaged ceiling tiles, painting, and masonry repair.
3. Roofing replacements at Wilkinson Middle School and the Early Childhood Center to replace roofs beyond their useful life and in need of repair.
4. Training of school personnel on the operations and maintenance of all new systems.

Madison District Public Schools has been engaged over the past two years in a long-term facility and infrastructure planning initiative to upgrade the district's aging buildings to improve the learning environment and meet the vision and goals of the school district.

A Facility Condition Assessment completed on behalf of the district by Performance Services and Byce Architecture in February 2019 and updated in 2021. In April 2021 SetSeg School Insurance Specialist conducted a facility and Hazard Assessment on school facilities as well. The studies identified critical facility needs at Madison High School and roofing needs at Wilkinson and Early Childhood Center.  The school's budget has only allowed for addressing the district's most critical facility repairs, the district's aging buildings, shifting student enrollment, and the desire to modernize facilities to address the needs of today's and tomorrow's learners, require facility upgrades beyond the dollars available in our annual budget. It is imperative we make these improvements now.

The District was mindful of the Board of Education's desire that any bond proposal brought before the community not result in an increase for taxpayers beyond the current debt. Madison District Public Schools working Performance Services, Byce Architects, SetSeg, district stakeholders including tours and feedback from students, teachers, principals, parents and community members presented the school board a proposal to address critical infrastructure needs.

After reviewing the critical items identified in both studies, the Board unanimously supported placing a $11.4 million bond initiative on the ballot, which would be a zero increase over the current debt millage rate.

The school is requesting the bond to repair critical infrastructure needs at Madison High School and roofs at the Early Childhood Center and Wilkinson Middle School.

A recent study by the school insurance carrier requires the repair of mechanical issues and the roof at the high school.

The majority of HVAC equipment at Madison High School is original from 1963 and well beyond its lifecycle and in need of repair and replacement.

It is important to note that the projects listed below will fulfill the requirements in the SetSeg report. All items included in the bond proposal are critical infrastructure improvements that can be accommodated without a tax rate increase.

• Replace roof at Madison Early Childhood Center
• Replace roof at Wilkinson Middle School
• Replace roof at Madison High School

At High School:

• Replace ceiling tiles in classrooms
• Building wide update electrical system with additional outlets in classrooms
• Painting and Masonry repair in Classrooms
• Replace and Upgrade HVAC systems including Boilers, pumps, valves, piping
• Install new unit-ventilators in classrooms with both heating and air conditioning
• Upgrade building controls with new energy management system
• Upgrade main entrance security