At town hall, KUSD leaders make pitch for $23 million referendum to plug operations deficit & build secure school entrances

KENOSHA, Wis. (CBS 58) -- The Kenosha Unified School District is the latest to face dire consequences from the state's problematic school funding formula.

Kenosha voters will consider a $23 million referendum next month. If it fails, district leaders warn difficult cuts will have to be made.

KUSD is among the hundreds of Wisconsin districts that are not getting adequate funding from the state's formula that is controlled by the legislature.

The district anticipates a $19 million operations hole next year, plus they want to better secure several buildings after November's safety scare.

KUSD Superintendent Dr. Jeffrey Weiss told us, "We're at a point now where we need to ask our community for additional help."

Declining enrollment means less per-pupil funding from the state formula that has not changed since the 1990s.

KUSD is asking for $23 million a year over five years to plug the operations deficit. It would also help build secure entrances at buildings that currently lack them.

Weiss says the district has already done what it can. "We have taken many cost saving measures that have impacted our community, our students, and our staff."

Last year the district closed seven schools and merged others, saving about $10 million per year.

But dire challenges remain.

If the referendum fails, district leaders warned teachers could leave for better salaries elsewhere, class sizes could jump, extra programs could be cut, and technology budgets slashed.

Voters will decide Feb. 18th.

But it could be a tough sell.

Parent Angela Kretchmer attended the meeting and told us, "I'm a no. 100% no."

Kretchmer is not convinced the money will help preserve educational programs. "I'm not in support of a five year. I am in support of security measures to make sure that our schools are safe."

When a student tried to enter an elementary school in November with what was believed at the time to be a gun, it shined a light on the district buildings that still do not have secure entrances.

A KUSD task force is looking at additional measures that could be put in place.

The district's Chief of School Leadership, Bill Haithcock, told the crowd, "We're just kind of looking at what we have in place already and then what do we feel like we could consider?"

Over the past 10 years, most of the operations referenda proposed throughout the state have passed, but Weiss is not downplaying the significance of the ask, saying, "The concerns I'm expecting, and they're legitimate concerns."

KUSD will host three more town halls to talk through the financial challenges.