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Mixed results in school referendum voting
Posted: 11/4/2009 10:31:28 AM
Of 10 school district ballot questions involving new construction and additional operating expenses, half were approved by voters Tuesday. Consolidation-related questions also were split, with the Chetek and Weyerhaeuser districts approved for consolidation but another one failing.
The successful questions passed Tuesday included two in Whitefish Bay ($13.6 million for additions to the high school and elementary schools and technology improvements to all buildings; $9 million for renovations to all school buildings), Trevor-Wilmot ($11.4 million for a building addition to the Trevor School), Oakfield ($2.6 million for district operation and maintenance expenses), and Wisconsin Dells ($2.3 million for an elementary school addition).
Two questions in the Cedar Grove-Belgium Area School District failed ($20.7 million for building a new middle school with solar and geothermal technology in addition to building a technical education building and remodeling the middle school; $4.5 million for a middle school swimming pool). Additionally, two questions in Pewaukee also failed ($24.9 million for modifications to the high school, a swimming pool and middle school security upgrades; $400,000 for operational expenses). Another question voted down Tuesday was in Stevens Point ($23.1 million for operational expenses).
In both Chetek and Weyerhaeuser, voters overwhelmingly approved consolidation, 863-341 and 536-92, respectively. The merger was prompted by both districts having declining enrollment. Weyerhaeuser is down to about 130 students which is about half of what it had a decade ago. Facing a state aid funding crunch, consolidation will allow the districts to combine resources and provide better opportunities for students. The vote was the result of roughly 18 months of study involving school and community officials.
A proposal to detach Fox Lake from the Waupun Area School District failed. Had it passed, students in Fox Lake would have begun attending school in the Randolph School District.