WINONA, Minn. – An engineering firm told the Winona School Board that it needs to spend $63 million to catch up on delayed maintenance. The greatest need is at Jefferson and Washington-Kosciusko elementary schools. The schools were built in the 1930s. The needs there total $23 million, said Paul Aplikowski and Ben Berry of Wold Architects & Engineers. Things that need attention district-wide within the next couple hears total $36 million, the Wold report said. The Board will hold a work session Monday to discuss the Wold recommendations. Wold noted that deferred maintenance is not uncommon for schools because funding sources are uneven and don’t allow all maintenance needs to be addressed immediately. Participating in the Wold study were Superintendent Annette Freiheit, buildings and grounds director Michael McArdle, and school principals.
Tax prospects
Among options for the School Board is a new one-time tax referendum. Three years ago voters approved a $9.4 million bond referendum that addressed the most dire of the district’s needs at the time with a focus on accessibility, safety and security. That levy expires in 2023, which suggests a new levy will then be possible without hiking property taxes.