Advertisement The voters will be asked to weigh in on two matters — whether to continue exceeding the state revenue caps by $350,000 for the next three years and whether to allow the district to borrow money to finance the demolition of the old high school while preserving the gym in that building.
District Superintendent Roger Foegen told the board the district can only spend funds for the distribution of information regarding the referendum.
“We can provide money for information only,” he said. “We can not advocate as a board.”
Board members, however, are free to express their opinions as individuals.
After discussion, the board voted to hold two informational meetings. The first will be on Jan. 27 at 7 p.m. at the old high school. That site was chosen after a recommendation by Foegen.
“That way people could see the condition of the gym and hear how much it is used,” Foegen said. “And we could offer tours beginning at 6 p.m. so people could walk through the old existing part of the building and see how different it is now from when it was vacated 12 or 13 years ago.”
The second meeting would be at 7 p.m. Feb. 8. It, too, will be held at the old school and tours will be offered beginning at 6 p.m.
Three years ago, when voters were asked to exceed the state revenue caps, no one showed up for the second meeting. Still, board members said they felt it was important to hold two meetings to give people the option of attending one meeting if circumstances prevented them from going to the first one.
Board President Rod Hundt voiced the prevailing sentiment that the issue was too important not to take every opportunity to inform taxpayers.
“It might be overkill, but better that than not enough meetings,” he said.
The district also will address the referendum questions in two newsletters, one will be sent out the week of Jan. 18, the other in February just before the referendum. More information will also be made available at the school Web site.
In addition, board members will travel to board meetings in the townships in coming weeks to explain the situation to community leaders there.
“We will stress why there is a need and try to keep it simple,” Foegen said. “In the newsletter we’ll have to talk about the enrollment decline, the situation with the old high school, the impact on the taxpayer and what will happen if the referendum questions fail.
“I think it’s important in the literature we put out that we indicate that we’re aware of the current economic climate and that we know we will have to make further cuts even if the referendum passes,” Foegen continued. “I’m not sure everyone realizes that if we vote ‘no’ the $350,000 goes away.”
Race to the Top
Before adjourning to a closed session, the board voted to sign a memorandum of understanding regarding eligibility for Wisconsin Race to the Top funds that may be made available to school districts throughout the state. Foegen told the board that signing the memorandum at this time did not limit the school district’s options.
“If the state gets the money from the federal government,” Foegen said, “we would have to submit a plan. At that time you could opt out if you didn’t like the conditions, but if you opt out now, you’re off the list. There doesn’t seem to be any risk in signing at this time and also, the more districts that opt out, the bigger the pot will be for everyone else.”
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