Post Messenger Recorder -

The New Glarus School District is asking the voters in the November election to exceed the revenue limit by $1,200,000 to purchase land, and is now able to disclose the exact location. The parcel of land is 45.9 acres in the Village of New Glarus. It is bordered by Legler Valley Road and has outlets to Windlach Street/8th Street and 10th Avenue.

The District is interested in purchasing land because space is already limited in the Village and the District needs to plan for the future. Specifically, the District thinks this parcel of land is a good choice for future development for the following reasons: it is a large parcel of land in the Village which is extremely rare to find; there are no major highways between the current schools and this property; and there are multiple potential access points to the property.

In regard to the cost of the land, the District believes the negotiated price is reasonable because land in the Village of New Glarus has been selling at much higher costs per acre than this parcel and a couple districts within 15 miles of New Glarus have bought large parcels of land within the past three years at double and triple the cost per acre. Also, the School District of New Glarus has been fiscally responsible by paying off additional debt and keeping the tax (mill) rate steady for six years in a row, and those measures have put the district in a position where the land can be financed without increasing the tax rate.

If the District is able to acquire land, it's important to note that there are not any specific plans for the land at this time. Last year a community group brought forward a petition with over 200 signatures asking the School Board to consider adding additional facilities. A facilities study is currently being conducted by Bray Architects to review the current buildings and educational spaces. The District also anticipates gathering extensive staff and community input over the next couple years in order to develop a long-term facilities plan.

For more information, including a Q&A document about the land referendum, see the New Glarus School District Website at http://www.ngsd.k12.wi.us/home or their Facebook page.