After receiving community approval on the February referendum, the district assembled a district design team and started the design phase. You can review the minutes of these meetings below.

Since the vote, the team has completed the following: 

• An exterior site review was done, including reviews of areas such as the sidewalks, retaining walls, ramps, doors, entrances, drainage improvements, pavement, and ADA accessibility improvement areas. 

• Internal materials samples were taken during Spring Break and are being tested for lead and asbestos throughout the building.

• An architect firm (River Valley Architects) was selected and will be in the building over the next month to help finalize the project scope and prepare plans for bidding.

• The summer projects list is being finalized so we can start work this summer by securing the best possible pricing. 

• The district is determining the draw schedule for when to receive referendum revenues. The strategy is to delay the first draw on the schedule as long as possible to minimize the amount of interest owed on the bond. 

• We are working on accountability and transparency for this project, which includes minutes from all the meetings and key milestones being published on our website. We also have an option for community members to subscribe to our monthly newsletter. 

On Tuesday, March 18, the Buildings and Grounds Committee will participate in a joint kickoff meeting with key project partners to begin work on the recently approved referendum projects. This meeting will serve as an initial planning session to align expectations, establish timelines, and outline next steps in the design and construction process.

Agenda items include:

• Introduction of the Design Team - Architects, engineers, consultants, and key project partners

• Overview of the Design Process

• Preliminary Project Timeline - Design, construction phases, and scheduling

• Review of the Approved Project Scope

• Establishing Meeting Cadence - User group involvement and ongoing collaboration

• Open Discussion & Questions

This meeting marks an important step in bringing the referendum projects to life, ensuring a well-coordinated and transparent process as we move forward.

𝚃𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚔 𝚈𝚘𝚞, 𝚆𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚍 𝙲𝚘𝚖𝚖𝚞𝚗𝚒𝚝𝚢!

After completing our canvass and verifying last night’s results, we are pleased to announce the successful passage of the $24.9 million bond essential referendum. This milestone marks a pivotal moment for our community and its high school, made possible by your trust and commitment to invest in our students' future.

Passing this referendum after three previous attempts underscores our community's dedication to ensuring our essential needs are being taken care of. With these funds, we will repair and replace outdated infrastructure, enhance security measures, and provide classroom improvements to engineering, art, CTE, and special education. Every project will directly benefit our students, staff, and families for years to come.

This referendum is historic—not only is it the largest in Waterford Union’s history, but it was achieved without raising taxes on the bond. By responsibly retiring our previous bond well ahead of schedule, we saved taxpayers over $1 million in interest, allowing us to move forward with this critical investment in our schools in a fiscally responsible manner.

The WUHS family - the Board, the administration, the educators, staff, and I – we take this fiscal responsibility seriously. We recognize the trust you have placed in us, and we are committed to being excellent stewards of these funds. Our promise is to deliver these projects on time and within budget, with full transparency every step of the way. This includes an open and competitive bid process, clear communication on project milestones, and detailed reporting on how every dollar is spent.

In the coming weeks, we will share more information about next steps. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at lfrancois@wuhs.us.

Thank you for believing in the future of Waterford’s schools. Together, our community is building something truly special.
Dr. Luke Francois
Superintendent, Waterford Union High School

The district design team had its first meeting to discuss the referendum project. Topics of discussion included exterior site review, architectural discussions, mechanical/plumbing, electrical, fire protection, and preliminary timelines. You can view the full agenda by visiting this link. 

On March 18, 2025, Waterford Union High School held the initial kick-off meeting about the referendum projects. The meeting notes can be viewed by visiting this link.