Communications and Media

Click here to view Referendum Roundup #5.

Features:

• Thank You Video
• Media Coverage

Click here to view Referendum Roundup #4

Features:

• WFRV story
• Facilities Question 2 Video

Click here to view Referendum Roundup #3

Features:

• The Press Times Article
• Task Force Video

Click here to view Community Newsletter, Spring 2021.

Click here to view Referendum Roundup #2 

Features:

• Community Information Session #2
• Video: Why Referendum?
• Early Voting Information

Click here to view Referendum Roundup sent to families on March 12, 2021.

Features: 

• Community Information Sessions
• Early Voting Information
• Operational Referendum Video
• Facilities Project Plans

The Referendum Update is a six-page publication that will be mailed to residents March 5. Click here to view a full digital version.

More than 30 Wisconsin school districts are on the ballot April 6 with a facilities referendum question. Only HSSD has announced a *lower* tax levy rate as part of its plan.

Click here to view the post card sent to district residents February 2.

Dear HSSD Families,

At its meeting last night, the Howard-Suamico Board of Education unanimously approved two referendum questions that will appear on the ballot Tuesday, April 6, 2021. We will be sharing an update with the media and the general public later today.

After a year-long process of strategic, long-range planning, including two community surveys and a community-led task force, the Board has developed a plan that reflects the priorities of the community. Please join me in thanking the Task Force members who volunteered their time and talents to present thoughtful recommendations to the Board.

If both questions are approved in April, it would represent a property tax rate decrease from the current mill rate of $9.19 per $1,000 of fair market property value which has been in place for the last six years. The amount of the proposed rate decrease will be discussed at the January 25, 2021 board meeting.

Question 1 is for $5 million per year over a five-year period to renew funding that would maintain lower class sizes, support staff compensation, and facilities maintenance. If approved, the question would lower the annual funding from the current $5.85 million to $5 million per year beginning in 2023. 

Question 2 is for $98 million to address critical facilities projects throughout all eight district schools, including replacements and upgrades to roofing, windows, heating, ventilation, air conditioning and electrical systems, along with issues related to Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility. Additionally, the referendum provides for learning environment renovations at Bay View Middle School and Forest Glen Elementary School. 

We look forward to sharing more information and continuing these important conversations about the future of our schools in the weeks and months ahead. To learn more about the district’s needs and the solutions that will appear on the ballot in April, please visit www.hssdschools.org/community/referendum. 

As always, thank you for your engagement. 

Together,

Damian LaCroix, Superintendent
Howard-Suamico School District
920-662-8103
damilacr@hssdschools.org

Dear Howard-Suamico School District Families and Staff,

The HSSD Board of Education is examining the feasibility of an April 2021 operational replacement referendum. This referendum may include an additional question to address facility needs. Using the feedback provided by a community survey sent in September, the Board invited a 44-member community task force to research facilities options. That task force has met four times since October, and is studying alternatives to address the district's long-range facilities needs. It plans to make a formal recommendation to the Board in January. 

To help inform this process, we are inviting all HSSD residents to participate in a second survey. The Board and the community task force will use this input to evaluate options, assess affordability, and determine direction.

The anonymous survey will be open until Wednesday, December 16, at noon. Each adult in our community is welcome to participate. Note: the survey is now closed. 

Sincerely, 

Howard-Suamico School District Board of Education
Teresa M. Ford, President
Garry Sievert, Vice-president
Jeff Eilers, Clerk
Scott Jandrin, Treasurer/Deputy Clerk
Christina Amtmann, Director
Vanessa Moran, Director
Jason Potts, Director

Dear Howard-Suamico School District Families and Staff,

In April 2018, Howard-Suamico voters passed an operational referendum question to address the district’s financial challenges due to the inequitable state funding formula for public schools. The financial resources from that referendum will expire in 2023 if voters do not approve a replacement referendum. At the same time, the district has some facilities needs that require the community’s attention. 

With these issues in mind, the Board of Education is asking all HSSD residents and staff to participate in a survey to assist in its referendum planning efforts. The board will use this information to evaluate options that meet the community’s needs, are financially responsible, and move the district forward.

The anonymous survey was open from September 21 to October 11. Each adult in our community is invited to participate. Postcards have also been sent to all Howard and Suamico residents.

The estimated time to complete the survey is 15 minutes. Paper copies are available at the Howard-Suamico School District Office and every school office. Completed paper surveys may be returned to any school office or to the District Office: 2706 Lineville Road, Green Bay, WI, 54313. They may be returned Monday–Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., or mailed to the District Office.

If you have questions or would like to request a paper copy of the survey, please contact HSSD Director of Communications Brian Nicol at 920-662-7825 or brianico@hssdschools.org. Thank you in advance for your participation.

Sincerely, 

Howard-Suamico School District Board of Education
Teresa M. Ford, President
Garry Sievert, Vice-president
Jeff Eilers, Clerk
Scott Jandrin, Treasurer/Deputy Clerk
Christina Amtmann, Director
Vanessa Moran, Director
Jason Potts, Director

Click here to view the Survey Results presentation to the referendum task force on December 17, 2020.

• The Board of Education received a referendum planning survey report at its Monday, October 12 meeting. The survey received 1,595 responses, which is a record number for a referendum-related survey in HSSD.
• Regarding the question, "How likely are you to support an operational referendum to renew the expiring referendum?" 71% of respondents indicated probably or definitely
• Regarding the statement, "I would support updates to air handling, air quality, and air conditioning systems so that learning environments at all schools are similar." 80% of respondents indicated they agree or strongly agree.
• Regarding the statement, "I would vote 'yes' on a referendum question resulting in no tax rate increase to a to address the district's most urgent facilities issues." 82% of respondents indicated they agree or strongly agree.
• View the full report, including recommended next steps in the planning process here.
•  

HSSD Board of Education Announces Plans for $8.99 Tax Levy Rate - Lowest in 12 Years 

Board declares intent to lower rate as part of April 2021 referendum plan

Suamico, Wis. - At its meeting Monday evening, January 25, the Howard-Suamico School District Board of Education declared its intent to lower the district’s tax levy rate for the first time in 12 years, to $8.99 per $1,000 of equalized fair market property value. The move is part of the April 6, 2021 referendum plan, passed unanimously by the Board at its January 11 meeting.

The announcement comes in response to a Community Task Force recommendation that the Board consider lowering the tax levy rate, also commonly referred to as the mill rate, after six straight years at a stable rate of $9.19 per $1,000. 

The intent is to lower the rate from $9.19 to $8.99 for the final two years of the current operational referendum, and to maintain $8.99 for the five years of the proposed replacement operational referendum ending in 2028. The Board will officially set the levy rate in October when it is scheduled to take formal action on establishing the levy rate for the 2021-22 school year. The Board action to lower the rate is contingent on the passing of the April 2021 referendum questions.

The Community Task Force levy rate recommendation was one of five presented to the Board as part of its referendum planning process at the January 11, 2021 meeting. The board ultimately approved two referendum questions January 11 to be presented to the community on the April 6, 2021 ballot.

Question 1 is for $5 million per year over a five-year period to renew funding that would maintain lower class sizes, support staff compensation, and facilities maintenance. If approved, the question would lower the annual funding from the current $5.85 million to $5 million per year beginning in 2023. 

Question 2 is for $98 million to address critical facilities projects throughout all eight district schools, including replacements and upgrades to roofing, windows, heating, ventilation, air conditioning and electrical systems, along with issues related to Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility. Additionally, the referendum provides for learning environment renovations at Bay View Middle School and Forest Glen Elementary School. 

For more information on the district’s needs and the solutions that will appear on the April 6 ballot, visit www.hssdschools.org/community/referendum.

• January 12, 2021 Press Release
• January 12, 2021 Media Packet

Email referendum@hssdschools.org.