| By Big Radio News Staff |

By the end of April, the Janesville School District aims to send residents a survey laying out $169 million in building upgrades the district says are needed.

The district seeks feedback on various spending plans that in the next few years would address a smaller portion what district officials say ultimately would be a $578 million in “basic” building maintenance needs.

That spending would be in addition to an ask of voters to renew a $14.5-million, annual operational referendum first launched in 2020. A reboot would bring back an influx of funding to help fuel district programs, staffing and operational costs over the next two years.

The district says the operational referendum’s still aimed at bridging a likely gap between the district’s costs and annual funding the state provides under its current school reimbursement model.

Its renewal would not bring a jump to residents’ annual school district tax bill, district officials say, because the district has paid down debt under its recent budgets.

But the district says the $169 plan for the district to upgrade its buildings’ electrical systems, plumbing, mechanical equipment, roofs, windows, along with other fixes to facilities would boost district debt repayments through the district’s tax rate by about $102 for a $100,000 home.

On Thursday, the district did not immediately respond to an inquiry by WCLO on how the increase would shake out on the tax bill for an average Janesville home – which state multiple listing data shows is now about $250,000.

According to a boil down the district provided in an announcement on Thursday evening, the survey would ask residents for feedback on the facilities plan, including proposals to spend:

— $23 million to build new athletic facilities at Parker and Craig high schools, or instead renovate the athletic facilities and stadium at Monterey Park.

— $32 million in career and technical education classroom renovations at Parker and Craig high schools.

— $36 million in district elementary school classroom renovations.

— $19 million in special education classroom renovations.

— $13.8 million in continued safety and security enhancements at district facilities.

Janesville schools Superintendent Mark Holzman says the district and the school board has spent months poring over district needs. He says the district hopes residents will spend time completing a survey that lays out those needs.

“We must have community input,” Holzman says in a statement.

Holzman says the community’s survey response “will help guide our next steps.”

District residents can sound off in the survey through part of May.

Residents who receive surveys will get a unique code to use if they respond online. Multiple members of a household can ask the district for additional copies of the survey.

Find more information at the Janesville School District’s website under its facilities needs web page.