What happens at ballot boxes around Wisconsin — fortunately
or unfortunately — has a great deal to do with the futures
of schools and communities throughout the state. Tuesday,
Sept. 9, was a good example with eight referenda questions
to exceed state-imposed revenue caps being decided.
The long and the short of it were that five passed and three
failed. It wasn’t quite that simple, especially in the
districts where ballots were cast … and in the nine
districts (so far) where referenda are scheduled on Nov. 4.
(For a good website to see referenda results and those scheduled,
go to http://dpi.wi.gov/sfs/referendum.html.)
In addition, reformers need to be aware of what else is going
on at the ballot box. While school funding is definitely not
a partisan issue, it is a political one. Our present system
is law and the only way to change the law is to, quite simply,
have enough legislators vote to change it.
Therefore, it is important that we keep track of candidates,
question them about their views of school-funding whenever
possible, and vote for those who want to change the system
to help children and communities.
Half of the State Senate and all of the State Assembly are
up for grabs on Nov. 4. Now is the time to do your homework.
To find out who survived the primaries and is running —
and how to contact them — go to http://thewheelerreport.com/lxn08/november4lxn/statesenate.htm
for the Senate (and follow the links) and http://thewheelerreport.com/lxn08/november4lxn/assembly.htm
for the Assembly. To find out if the candidates in your area
are involved in a forum where you can ask questions, contact
their campaigns or go to calendar
page on this website. If you want to help sponsor a forum,
contact Tom Beebe, Wisconsin Alliance for Excellent Schools,
at 920-650-0525 or
tbeebe@excellentschools.org.
School referendum rundown
Deerfield
— Non-recurring; $1.87 million over five years; passed
422-265. Superintendent Michelle Jensen said referendum supporters
are “absolutely thrilled” by the results. Among
the “uses” of the new money will be replacing
outdated textbooks and curriculum and maintaining small class
sizes.
Mineral
Point — Non-recurring; $3.29 million over five years;
failed 328-599. In the build-up to the referendum, it was
reported that Mineral Point has reduced its school budget
nearly $1 million and decreased its fund balance by almost
$700,000 over the past few years. It was noted that if the
referendum failed-which it did-the district, during the 2009-10
school year, would have to reduce staff and increase class
sizes; eliminate “some valued programs”; reduce
further material, equipment, and technology budgets; put needed
maintenance on hold; and was interest payments on cash-flow
borrowing.
Montello
— Non-recurring; $1.9 million over two years; passed
959-866. While thanking the community for their support of
the referendum, Superintendent Jeff Holmes said the state-funding
system was running
districts like Montello into the ground). Holmes also
said the need
to repeatedly go the community for referenda is a common story
around Wisconsin and the state Legislature should take
notice.
Neillsville
— Non-recurring; $1.5 million over five years; passed
557-481.While thanking community supporters for their trust
during hard economic times, Superintendent Gary Gaier also
direct a message toward the Legislature. Gaier said if the
state’s school-funding formula remains unchanged, every
district in Wisconsin, including Neillsville, will continue
asking taxpayers for more money.
Rhinelander
— Recurring; $225,000 a year; failed 3,178-3,204. As
the results were being finalized, school district administrators
were already starting to think about the district’s
next referendum. A referendum was also held in April and was
defeated by an even larger margin. The district believes it
urgently needs to pass some kind of proposal or there will
need to be cuts in programs and staff so “we can begin
addressing some of the more pressing needs in the buildings
and grounds budget,” said Superintendent Roger Erdahl.
Rubicon
— Non-recurring; $450,000 over three years; passed 132-91.
The successful referendum in the Rubicon School District headed
off a lengthy list of cuts, including guidance, physical education,
art, music, forensics, student council, and athletics. It
was also noted that even if approved, “the district
would (only) be allowed a few more years of operation and
would be able to see if the proposed new subdivisions come
to fruition” to increase enrollment.
Salem
— Recurring; $1.16 million a year; failed 386-677. A
second unsuccessful referendum in the Salem school district
will lead to $1.1 million in program cuts for students. In
explaining why they district was going to the voters for more
money, Superintendent
David Milz said it was because the present system of funding
“truly hammers” Salem. “We receive less
money because of our declining enrollment. We receive fewer
dollars in state aid because of our increasing land value.
Then, to top it all off, the amount of money that we are able
to generate per pupil is significantly less when compared
to other schools.”
Weston
— Non-recurring; $995,000 over three years; passed 482-308.
Although the victory margin was close, Weston Superintendent
Tom Andres explained that a win is a win. “We can have
some security now and know we’re going to be solid for
three years,” he said.
Next set of referenda
As of now, no referenda to exceed the revenue limits are
scheduled prior to the regular election on Nov. 4. On that
day, there will be five non-recurring and four recurring votes:
Aurburndale-non-recurring; $2 million over five years.
Gibraltar-non-recurring; $5.3 million over two years.
Lodi-non-recurring; $2.625 million over three years.
Mercer-non-recurring; $1.4 million over four years
Oregon-non-recurring; $4 million over 10 years.
Lafarge-recurring; $250,000.
New London-recurring; $300,000.
Pittsville-recurring; $175,000.
Seneca-recurring; $800,000.
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