Rhinelander High School Technical Education Complete | September 2026
Northwoods employers need skilled people, and some of tomorrow's workforce is in Rhinelander High School's classrooms today.
On Sept. 21, 2026, the School District of Rhinelander celebrated the completion of new and renovated technical education spaces at Rhinelander High School with a ribbon cutting and tours. The milestone marks the completion of the districtwide $26 million referendum project approved by voters in April 2024, following the James Williams Middle School ribbon cutting in spring 2026.
Key Takeaways
- The School District of Rhinelander celebrated the completion of Rhinelander High School technical education renovations and additions on Sept. 21, 2026.
- New and renovated spaces include fabrication and welding labs, a Fab Lab, a woods lab, machining facilities and the Dr. Lee Swank Collaboration Space.
- The Northwoods Star Journal reported that representatives of C.D. Smith and Bray Architects confirmed the 15-month construction project finished on time and under budget.
- The high school completion marks the final milestone of the $26 million districtwide referendum approved by two thirds of voters in April 2024. The improvements replace and modernize technical education spaces that dated to the 1950s.
What's New at Rhinelander High School
The high school portion of the project expanded and modernized technical education facilities, including fabrication and welding labs, machining facilities, a woods lab and the Dream It. Design It. Fab Lab. Earlier work completed upgrades to the auto and marine facilities. The project also updated science classrooms.
The new Dr. Lee Swank Collaboration Space gives the district a place to recognize donors who support technical education and to connect employers with students and staff.
Built Around Northwoods Careers
The district built the project around demand it was already seeing: growing student interest in technical education and a need across the Northwoods for workers in the trades, manufacturing and service industries.
"When our students walk into these spaces, we want them to see possibility. We want them to know that our community believes in them and is willing to invest in their success."
Eric Burke, Superintendent, School District of Rhinelander
That focus was part of the project from the start. When construction began in spring 2025, a C.D. Smith superintendent joined the Rhinelander High School career fair to talk with students about careers in the trades. Students now have dedicated spaces to focus on many of those same paths.
From Needs Assessment to Ribbon Cutting
- 2021: The district begins a needs assessment of its technical education facilities.
- April 2024: Voters approve the $26 million referendum by a two thirds majority.
- Spring 2025: Groundbreaking at Rhinelander High School.
- Spring 2026: James Williams Middle School ribbon cutting.
- Sept. 21, 2026: Rhinelander High School ribbon cutting completes the project.
Rhinelander High School Completion in the News
- District celebrates the completion of transformative tech project | Northwoods Star Journal | 09.22.2026
- Rhinelander High School holds ribbon cutting for new tech ed space | WJJQ | 09.22.2026
- Capital improvements finished on time, under budget | Northwoods River News | 09.25.2026
- Rhinelander High School upgrades to be celebrated with ribbon cutting ceremony | WXPR | 09.21.2026
- Rhinelander High School to hold ribbon cutting for renovation project | WSAW | 09.19.2026
Date: September 2026
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JAMES WILLIAMS MIDDLE SCHOOL RIBBON CUTTING MARKS A NEW CHAPTER
Spring 2026 Construction Update
RHINELANDER, Wis. – (April 2026) – Students at James Williams Middle School are now learning in spaces that better prepare them for what comes next.
Updated classrooms for technology education, Family & Consumer Education and flexible instruction create more opportunities to build practical skills early. Expanded student support areas and a new secure entrance improve how the school operates day to day.
This milestone was marked with a recent ribbon cutting, celebrating completion of the middle school portion of the School District of Rhinelander’s referendum projects. Work at Rhinelander High School is underway, with completion targeted for August 2026.
What Changed at James Williams Middle School
The renovation and addition update how the building functions.
A new secure front entrance establishes a clear point of arrival for students, staff and visitors. Expanded administrative offices including student services, a staff workroom and a life skills room give the school’s support team dedicated space to work more effectively.
Instructional spaces were updated to better match how subjects are taught. Classrooms for art, technology education and Family & Consumer Education support hands-on learning, while flexible spaces allow teachers to adapt the room based on the activity, group size or subject.
How These Updates Support Student Learning and Daily Use
At this level, exposure shapes direction.
Students are beginning to connect what they're learning to what comes next. Spaces built for hands-on instruction make that more visible and consistent throughout the school day.
Technology education and Family & Consumer Education classrooms give students opportunities to start seeing where newly learned skills can take them. Flexible spaces support different teaching approaches without requiring workarounds.
Support areas are also easier to access and use, which changes how staff interact with students throughout the day.
Security improvements serve a different purpose. A controlled entrance provides the visibility and access expected in modern school design and supports a more focused learning environment inside the building.
How This Fits Into the District’s Facilities Plan
The James Williams Middle School project is part of a broader referendum-supported effort across the School District of Rhinelander.
Rhinelander was working within facilities that no longer matched how students learn or how schools operate today. The community supported a plan to bridge those gaps.
The middle school is the first completed phase of work. Rhinelander High School is the active chapter.
What Comes Next for the School District of Rhinelander
Work at Rhinelander High School continues with completion targeted for August 2026.
The project includes additions for a construction lab and auto lab, along with updated classrooms and student spaces. These environments extend the same approach established at the middle school, connecting learning to real-world application and future pathways.
Date: April 28, 2026 | Author: Tracy Lisowe
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Building Momentum: School District of Rhinelander Construction Update
SUMMER CONSTRUCTION UPDATE - PROGRESS ACROSS THE DISTRICT
RHINELANDER, Wis. – (June 2025) – Just a few months after breaking ground, the School District of Rhinelander’s construction and renovation project is ahead of schedule and under budget.
HIGH SCHOOL HIGHLIGHTS
At Rhinelander High School (RHS), the vision for a modern, hands-on technical education experience is taking shape in real time, and progress is visible.
- Auto Lab: The new automotive lab building now has a roof, and the freshly poured concrete floor is ready for the next phase.
- Construction Lab: Walls are up and ready for joists and a roof, with work moving steadily forward.
- Science Classrooms: Demolition is wrapping up, paving the way for brand new science rooms set to be completed this summer.
The high school’s project scope includes new construction and auto labs, fully renovated tech ed classrooms with modern labs for building sciences, CAD/CAM, HVAC, auto, and small engine repair, plus the installation of new equipment.
MIDDLE SCHOOL MOMENTUM
Over at James Williams Middle School (JWMS), construction progress is equally impressive:
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The old front exterior wall has been replaced with a new firewall.
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Demolition crews have gutted the office area, making room for a new, secure entrance expected to be finished by the start of the school year.
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The middle school will receive dedicated and improved spaces for technical education, and classrooms throughout the building are being prepped for upgrades in art, music, family and consumer sciences, special education, and health.
JWMS’s renovations are designed to lay the groundwork for future success in high school technical education, with dedicated classrooms for industrial tech, coding, and early fabrication skills.
COMMUNITY-DRIVEN, STUDENT-FOCUSED
This $26 million referendum project, approved by more than 66% of voters in April 2024, is a direct response to feedback from local employers and the community. It emphasizes the importance of preparing students for careers in the trades and beyond.
“We’re all excited because we know that one- it helps our students, and two- it helps our community,” Rhinelander superintendent Eric Burke said.
C.D. Smith Construction Superintendent Jason Zweifel confirmed that the classrooms are scheduled to be done by the school year, with the labs completed during the fall semester. “Summer months are very busy, so we’ve got a lot to get done to have things ready for the students to be back in early September,” Zwiefel said.
LOOKING AHEAD
With each milestone, the School District of Rhinelander moves closer to delivering modern, future-ready spaces for students and staff, building momentum for the future of learning and the community.
Stay tuned for more updates as these renovations continue to take shape.
Date: June 25, 2025 | Author: Tracy Lisowe
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From Groundbreaking to Career Building: The School District of Rhinelander
BREAKING GROUND AND BUILDING THE FUTURE
RHINELANDER, Wis. – (Apr. 7, 2025) – The School District of Rhinelander hosted a groundbreaking ceremony on Monday, April 7, 2025, to mark the start of construction at Rhinelander High School (RHS) and James Williams Middle School (JWMS). The improvements will expand and renovate hands-on learning spaces—especially in technical education—while also bringing significant upgrades to science, art, music, family and consumer science, and special education classrooms.
The event featured a brief program with speeches from key individuals, including Eric Burke, Superintendent of The School District of Rhinelander; Shane Dornfeld, Principal of Rhinelander High School (RHS); Kyle Raleigh, Principal of James Williams Middle School (JWMS); and remarks from Bray Architects and C.D. Smith Construction.
The ceremony, held in front of the High School, culminated with the symbolic turning of the dirt.
PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS | TECH ED LEADS THE WAY
This project has been in the works since April 2024, when voters approved a $26 million referendum to fund facility updates that support student learning and career readiness.
At the heart of the project: expanding and upgrading the high school's technical education areas. These spaces, some dating back to 1958, will be revamped to provide students with modern equipment, flexible learning spaces, and opportunities to explore careers in welding, woodworking, design, fabrication and more.
MORE THAN TECH ED
While Tech Ed is a big part of the project, it’s just one part of preparing students for future careers with almost-real-world experience through hands-on, modern learning environments. Other improvements include:
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Modernized science classrooms at RHS
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Updated art, music, and FACS rooms at JWMS
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Expanded and improved special education areas
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A new and secure entry and office space at JWMS
BREAKING GROUND—AND EXPLORING CAREERS
A few short weeks after the groundbreaking, students at Rhinelander High School had another opportunity to look toward the future during the school’s Career Fair on April 30. C.D. Smith Superintendent Jason Zwiefel spent time talking with students about careers in the trades and what it’s like to build projects like the one unfolding just outside their classroom windows.
It was a perfect follow-up to the groundbreaking—a real-time example of how learning connects to life beyond high school.
Date: May 2, 2025 | Author: Tracy Lisowe
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The School District of Rhinelander | BUILDING PROJECTS and NEWS
Rhinelander schools adding upgrades to tech education | WSAW NewsChannel 7 06.25.2025
RHS, JWMS referendum construction ahead of schedule and under budget | The Northwoods River News 06.20.2025
Improvements to high school, middle school become more visible
Rhinelander School District embarks on Tech-Ed renovations with groundbreaking ceremony | WJFW Channel 12 News 04.08.2025
School District of Rhinelander breaks ground on multimillion-dollar facilities upgrade | WXPR Public Radio 04.08.2025
School District of Rhinelander to break ground on construction project Monday | WSAW Channel 7 04.07.2025
Rhinelander School District Hosting Groundbreaking Monday Afternoon | WJJQ Northwoods 92.5 04.07.2025
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