Wauwatosa school board approves 2 referenda for operations and facilities, voters to decide in November

WAUWATOSA, Wis. (CBS 58) -- There are difficult decisions to be made in Wauwatosa as the school district pushes for two multi-million-dollar referenda.

On Monday, June 17, the school board approved putting two referenda that will appear on the November ballot.

If approved, the operations referendum would generate $64 million in taxpayer revenue.

Another $60 million referendum would raise money for facilities costs to bring buildings up to ADA compliance.

The district faces a $52.4 million budget shortfall. District administrators say it's the result of a broken state formula that critically underfunds districts.

The board was originally expected to recommend a $48.4 million operations referendum, believing that amount was most likely to be approved by voters. But that option still would have required $4 million in cuts to make up the difference.

Dr. Eric Jessup-Anger, the president of the Wauwatosa School Board, said of the district's educators, "No doubt that they're tired, but they've been doing good work."

Until now, Wauwatosa school leaders say the district is pulling off quite the accomplishment: providing high quality education amid diminishing resources. But they add it simply will not last.

After months of listening to the community, the district first felt like an ask for $48.4 million had the best chance to get passed.

Superintendent Dr. Demond Means said, "Our $48.4 is bare minimum. It is just keeping status quo."

District leaders say they're one of the last 25% in the state to not ask for an operations referendum, but now the time has come.

Many people at Monday's meeting supported a referendum, despite the cost.

Derek Gottlieb, a future Wauwatosa parent, said during public comment, "The referendum is a vote to take the gun away from our own heads so we can get on with the day-to-day work of figuring out, together, what we want from our schools and how to provide it."

Another parent, Chasity Brimeyer, said, "I just ask you as board members to say yes and allow the community to follow and fill that state gap."

They're for it even if they're upset with why it's needed in the first place.

Katharine Hudson said, "The state of Wisconsin has continuously failed our public schools and our students."

But even the referendum with the smallest ask requires $4 million in cuts to close the budget gap. Personnel and programs would be on the chopping block, plus the district's two middle schools.

Superintendent Means said, "They want every school to be this amazing place. I want that. Well, if you want it, we need at least $52.4 million."

Board member Dr. Jenny Hoag said, "If we need 52.4 million then we need 52.4 million and we should be asking for 52.4 million."

Some board members would rather ask for the full amount needed to close the deficit instead of cutting programs and staff they say make the district what it is.

Board member Phillip Morris said, "Ask for what you need, so we can get there. And not take away from the things we are expecting to be our status quo."

After the operations referendum was passed, the board then discussed and passed the $60 million facilities referendum.