FOND DU LAC, Wis. (WFRV) – Fond du Lac School District officials hosted an informational session on Wednesday night so the public could learn more about the district’s operational referendum that goes before voters in April.
It’s a non-recurring operational referendum valued at $7.5 million per year for four years ($30 million in total).
“The biggest purpose of this meeting was making sure that our voters throughout the community have the facts,” Fond du Lac superintendent Matt Steinbarth told Local 5 News. “At the end of the day, we’re trying to make this the best place for students; that’s our focus always.”
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Steinbarth said that a combination of declining enrollment (they have 900 fewer students now than they did in 2010) and state funding that hasn’t kept pace with inflation has put the school district in a position where it needs to ask for a referendum.
Even if the referendum passes, Steinbarth said the district faces a $3.5 million budget hole for next school year. He said district officials plan to cut 30 staff positions, contracted services and consultants, some programs, and some staff stipends to fill that budget hole. They also plan to close a school, although they haven’t decided which one yet.
He said the referendum would allow the district to pay for some of its day-to-day expenses, like teacher salaries and benefits. It would also allow the district to build three secure entrances at the high school and install camera and door monitoring systems throughout the district.
At the meeting, there was some pushback from some attendees about the camera and door monitoring systems. Some people questioned whether this equipment was actually effective, and others said students don’t need to be constantly under surveillance.
The referendum would add about $151 per $100,000 of property value to people’s tax bill.
“We are retired, on a fixed income, so it’s a concern, but we would like to see the kids get a good education,” Fond du Lac resident Clyde Denzer said. “More than likely, we’ll vote for it because we want to support the schools, but it’s going to hurt.”
Schools make up one part of a person’s property tax bill. Even if the referendum passes, the school’s mill rate will remain below the state average.
Even though school mill rates will remain on the lower side in Fond du Lac, a recent re-evaluation of property values in Fond du Lac has led many residents to have to pay higher property taxes. Fond du Lac County officials may move forward with building a new jail, which could increase taxes in the future as well.
“The city has needs, we have needs, and I know that’s hard for the taxpayers,” Superintendent Steinbarth said. “At the end of the day, we just want to give the best opportunity to our students.”
Steinbarth said they’ve made several significant cost-cutting measures in the last year. These include eliminating 70 staff positions, increasing class sizes at the middle and high school levels, reducing the number of consultants they work with, and eliminating eight central office positions.
Appleton, Menasha, and Howard Suamico are some of the other school districts in the area with referendum questions on the April ballot.
“Unfortunately, I think until the state funding formula changes or at least is re-evaluated, I think you’ll continue to see districts around the state be in a similar position as we are in,” Superintendent Steinbarth said.
Over 80 percent of school districts in Wisconsin have held an operational referendum vote in the last 15 years.
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A coalition of teachers, school district officials, and parents recently filed a lawsuit alleging that the Wisconsin legislature has inadequately funded public schools in the state.
Assembly speaker Robin Vos called the lawsuit “another meritless attempt by liberal activists to defund the state’s highly successful school-voucher program and interfere with the Legislature’s authority to fund public schools.”
The spring election is on April 7. For more information about the Fond du Lac School District referendum, please click here. There’s another information session on the referendum scheduled for March 4 at 5 p.m. at Theisen Middle School.
A Fond du Lac School District operational referendum valued at $10 million each year for four years didn’t get approved by voters last year.
