“After reviewing any and all options that appeared feasible in the Rimrock Road area for an elementary size suitable to hold at least 400 elementary students, parking and playground space suitable for a neighborhood school, it became apparent that our first and best option was to work with the school district’s current partner, Rooted, to purchase their land and building located at 501 East Badger Road,” staff wrote in a memo to the board.
Voters will have two MMSD referendums on their Nov. 3 ballots. One, which includes the money for the elementary school, is a $317 million question that would also fund renovations to the four comprehensive high schools and consolidate Capital High School into a single location.
2020 Referendum: Commentary on adding another physical Madison School amidst flat/declining enrollment..
2020 tax and spending increase referendum notes and links.
A presenter [org chart] further mentioned that Madison spends about $1 per square foot in annual budget maintenance while Milwaukee is about $2. – October 2019 presentation. Milwaukee taxpayers plan to spend $1.2B for 75,234 students, or $15,950 per student, about 16% less than Madison.
Taxpayers have long supported the Madison School District’s far above average spending, while tolerating our long term, disastrous reading results.