Two “community talks and tours” are set later this month, at 6:30 p.m. Monday, March 20 and at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 28, both at the Cameron Middle School auditorium, to introduce the public to a proposed $6.1 million general obligation bond referendum that will be on the ballot in the Spring Election Tuesday, April 4.

The meetings are part of a campaign by the Cameron School District to educate voters about the referendum and its potential impact on the community.

According to online and direct mail information the referendum will focus on three main areas:

• Improved security and control of access to entrances and offices at the Middle School and High School.

• Replacing and/or updating a 28-year-old Middle School roof, repairing windows and exterior walls, and replacing old heating, air conditioning and fire alarm systems.

• Replace district school buses and maintenance vehicles, some approaching 20 years old.

The public relations campaign culminates an effort that began nearly one year ago, when a task force of school employees, citizens and students began its work with Madison, Wis.-based Nexus Solutions on district needs and priorities.

District Administrator Joe Leschisin said that after the task force completed its work, a second consultant (Slinger, Wis.-based School Perceptions) conducted a survey last fall to test public reactions to the task force proposals.

An estimated 450 citizens responded to the survey

“The survey showed an extremely high level of support for the district and some of our proposed projects,” Leschisin said Tuesday, March 14. “Our Facility Task Force used these survey results to not only develop the plan for the April 4 referendum, but also to assist them with future planning.”

The referendum will appear as follows on the April 4 ballot:

Shall the School District of Cameron, Barron County, Wisconsin be authorized to issue under Chapter 67 of the Wisconsin Statutes, general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $6,100,000 for the public purpose of paying the cost of a school facility improvement project consisting of: building systems, infrastructure, capital maintenance improvements at the Middle and High Schools; secure entrance improvements and main office remodeling at the Elementary, Middle and High Schools; school bus and district vehicle replacement; and acquisition of furnishings, fixtures, and equipment?