School referendums: 30 pass, 31 fail

For 26 school districts in Wisconsin, a total of 30 school referendum victories in the April 1, 2008, election will at least allow them to temporarily keep their heads above water in the face of growing financial constraints brought on by revenue caps and the state's failing school funding system.

But for 26 other districts in which a total of 31 referendums failed to pass, deeper troubles lie ahead. Most of those districts are going to have to make more cuts in teachers, support professionals and critical education programs.

Mark Luebker, district adminstrator for the Plum City School District (40 miles southwest of Eau Claire), summed up the reaction of many superintendents: "We'll make the needed cuts for the 2008-09 year and re-evaluate the need for a referendum because the problem isn't going away."

Plum City, a declining-enrollment district, suffered the biggest defeat in the state -- 747 no to 96 yes -- on a referendum to provide $1 million over three years to avoid drastic cuts. According to a presentation put together by the district, it already has cut $356,500 over the last six years. With the failed referendum, it said, it would have to increase class sizes at all levels, decrease class offerings at the high school, end summer school, cut bus routes, eliminate the SAGE class size reduction program, decrease professional and support staff, and stop maintaining buildings, among other things.

Other districts in which referendums failed were Beloit Turner (1 of 2), Bruce, Chetek, Cumberland, Durand, Elcho, Ellsworth, Germantown, Harford J1 (2), Jefferson, La Crosse (1 of 2), Luxemburg-Casco, Manawa (2), Montello, Poynette, Rhinelander (4), Rice Lake, River Ridge, Somerset, Washburn, Waupun, Weston, Weyerhaeuser, Winneconne, and Wisconsin Heights.

Districts in which referendums passed were Alma Center, Belmont, Beloit Turner (1 of 2), Bonduel, Boyceville, Cameron, Cassville, Elmbrook, Glendale-River Hills, Greenfield (2), Iowa-Grant, La Crosse (1 of 2), Lake Mills, Middleton-Cross Plains, Monticello, Pecatonica, Portage, Princeton, Racine, River Ridge (2), Royall,
Sauk Prairie, Sevastopol, Shorewood, Stockbridge (2), and Washington (2).

The state's biggest referendum -- $62 million -- passed in Elmbrook, 52% to 48%, a year after a $108 million referendum failed.

In a statewide election, voters ousted incumbent State Supreme Court Justice Louis Butler, electing instead Burnett County Circuit Judge Michael Gabelman.

Resource Page on School Funding

Posted April 3, 2008