👑 CHIPPEWA VALLEY SCHOOLS: THE 2018 BOND: WHAT CHANGED ALONG THE WAY?
Lady Budgetdown recently took a deeper look at Chippewa Valley Schools' 2018 bond.
Not simply at whether the dollars fit within the bond's purposes, but at something a little different:
How closely did the final bond program resemble the project plan voters were shown in 2018?
After comparing the original building work lists with years of bid awards, project updates, change orders and later bond expenditures, one thing became clear:
The 2018 bond became an evolving capital program.
Many original projects moved forward as planned. Others were delayed or modified. Construction conditions changed some projects. And as bid savings, contingency dollars and interest earnings became available, additional projects and needs were added along the way.
Here are some of the larger examples the records show:
🔹 $2.1 million - Construction Contingency Transfers
The original construction contingency was approximately $3.33 million.
Records later show:
• $1.4 million transferred to cover BP4/2022 projects
• $700,000 transferred for what the district specifically called "additional 2025 projects."
🔹 $2.35 million - Summer 2025 Renovations & Site Work
A later package included approximately:
• $1.15 million / roofing
• $195,000 / skylights
• $209,000 / electrical
• $457,000 / audiovisual work
• $343,000 / site work
The district identified remaining 2018 bond funds and additional interest earned by the bond as funding sources.
🔹 $1.73 million - 2026 Roofing Projects
Roofing work was approved for Erie, Iroquois, Seneca, Dakota 9th Grade Center and athletic storage buildings.
The district stated that this work would be funded using bid savings from the 2018 bond program.
One interesting example: Seneca's original 2018 building work list identified roofing as "n/a." The later 2026 roofing package included approximately $957,000 of roofing work at Seneca.
🔹 $610,778 - Shawnee Elementary Chillers
Two aging chillers were approved for replacement after the district reported increasingly frequent repairs.
Funding source?
Bid savings from the 2018 bond program.
🔹 $168,106 - Administration/Mohegan Renovations
In 2021, office renovations were added to accommodate additional technology staff associated with the district's 1:1 computer initiative.
The district reported that these renovations would be funded through bid savings from previous 2018 bond construction projects.
🔹 Technology Continued Well Beyond the Original Construction Timeline
Technology was always a major component of the 2018 bond.
But the bond continued funding substantial technology purchases and replacement cycles years later, including:
• Approximately $9.8 million for teacher and student devices in 2025
• Approximately $1.03 million for server infrastructure in 2026
• Approximately $550,000 for voice-server/software systems
• Approximately $380,000 for a district firewall
• Additional replacement laptops and other technology
🔹 And Then There Were the Change Orders
Not every change was a new project or a large expenditure.
The records document changes resulting from:
• Hidden pavement and soil conditions
• Deteriorated concrete discovered during demolition
• Fire-safety requirements
• Water intrusion
• Design revisions
• District/owner-requested additions
• Expanded spaces and revised flooring plans
And change orders did not always mean spending more.
The records also contain credits and reductions when allowances weren't needed or previously planned work ultimately wasn't necessary.
So what does the deeper dive show?
The final 2018 bond program was not identical, project-for-project, to the plan that existed when voters approved it.
Original projects were completed, delayed and modified. Additional projects were added. Bid savings were reused. Contingency dollars were transferred. Interest earnings provided additional spending capacity. And new facility and technology needs were addressed as the bond program continued.
That distinction matters.
A bond can begin with a detailed project list while still changing considerably over the years it takes to complete.
And that is precisely why Lady Budgetdown believes there is value in looking beyond the original ballot proposal and following the project trail all the way to the end.
The original plan tells us where the story started.
The bids, change orders, savings, interest earnings and final projects tell us where it went.
👑🪶 With receipts and respect.
Data compiled and reviewed by Lady Budgetdown using publicly available Chippewa Valley Schools bond records, including original 2018 building work lists, bid awards, change orders, project updates and bond financial records.