By City Times staff

WISCONSIN RAPIDS – Voters in the Wisconsin Rapids School District have said “yes” to two referenda.

On a vote of 3,248-2,592, voters approved a $34 million building and improvement plan.

The district will borrow $34,000,000 for a district-wide school building and facility improvement project. About $12,740,000 will focus on safety and security to reconfigure main entrances at all schools to better control visitor access.

Another $21,260,000 will focus on educational space improvements to expand and renovate Lincoln High School creating dedicated spaces to meet “the demands of today’s education needs as it relates to science and student resources;” construct a new gym at THINK Academy – Rudolph elementary – to create a separate gym and cafeteria; address any unmet district-wide capital maintenance items.

Voters also agreed to exceed state revenue limits by $2 million a year for five years to pay for technology and curriculum updates. That vote was 3,228 to 2,664.

The five-year operational referendum would focus on improving student opportunities and experiences to: continue to update curriculum and expand digital access to academic software; purchase annual instruction kits; provide professional development for staff to stay current with curriculum changes and updates; provide technology devices for student use and improve internet speed and reliability; and replace outdated audio-visual equipment in classroom.