District set to move on MDV Sale

We must look back a few years to understand better the full context of the old Meadow View (MDV) sale. The year was 2016, and Oconomowoc was facing another referendum. The district had just finished mailing residents an informative newsletter highlighting the details of the looming referendum. The newsletter implied that if the referendum were approved, the school district would sell the old MDV, including the building and the land. The referendum was approved, and now, nearly seven years later, the old MDV has yet to be sold. In the meantime, the district estimates the cost to maintain the property at approximately $40,000 annually.

Of course, the waters have been muddied over the last few years. Obstacles like a dubious gaggle of former board members, a comprehensive superintendent search, and a political pandemic all hindered progress. Clearly, our community has had its challenges over recent years. Yet now the time has come to put excuses aside, make good on commitments made to the citizens of Oconomowoc, and finally sell the old MDV. Selling the old MDV is a tremendous opportunity for the community and School Board to work together for a long-overdue win on this initiative. Here is the plan to make it happen.

• The sales and marketing strategy must be improved. The current process has not been effective, given that the district has had only two offers since the property was listed. Professionally listing the property with a commercial broker should be strongly considered, and a cost-benefit analysis should be analyzed. For example, a 6% broker fee on a sale of $1.50 million is $90,000. This is a significant expense. However, if the broker can expedite the sale, we will save money in the long run by avoiding the ongoing maintenance expenses estimated at $40,000 annually.


• The district should continue considering offers for the subdivided and complete property. Unnecessary restrictions that subdivide the property would make it a less lucrative option for prospective investors.


• All offers should be transparently shared with the public and objectively evaluated to maximize the financial return for taxpayers. The property is currently accruing expenses without generating any revenue. Therefore, we must move swiftly to minimize our costs.


• The district should consider offers from diverse buyers, including private and charter schools. Reviewing a purchase offer does not require us to accept the offer. Furthermore, a community that provides a variety of education models for students is a community that prioritizes education and empowers families to make their own choice. Families benefit when they can choose the educational opportunities best suited to their unique style and needs. School choice should not be considered a threat to OASD but rather a calling to become a truly unrivaled choice for Oconomowoc families.


• Oconomowoc is a community filled with hardworking and talented individuals. Why not leverage the talent and experience of our neighbors to help guide the process? To this end, the School Board should form a community task force to support the MDV sales effort. The task force would provide feedback, brainstorm marketing options, and help ensure the larger community stays engaged with the project's success.