Scott Williams, swilliams@wolfrivermedia.com
Leader Photo by Scott Williams Bonduel School Board President Jay Krull leads a community discussion Monday in the high school cafeteria during a special board meeting to discuss the failed referendum.
Student lunches, teaching positions and athletic programs are among budget cuts under consideration in the Bonduel School District after a failed referendum last week that would have raised more revenue for the schools.
School board members outlined the potential spending cuts Monday at a special board meeting organized after voters rejected the school district’s plea for financial relief.
The district faces a growing budget deficit after 54 percent of voters last Tuesday defeated a proposal to stabilize the district’s finances with up to $1 million annually in additional property taxes.
Dozens of students, parents, employees and others turned out at the special board meeting to voice support for the schools, with many people urging administrators to consider another referendum.
While some district officials expressed interest in the idea of another referendum, board members moved forward with potential spending cuts that the district had warned voters would be necessary without passage of last week’s ballot measure.
“It’s things we have to look at,” board President Jay Krull told the crowd. “We have to look at everything.”
The budget-balancing strategy unveiled for the 2017-18 school year includes cutting funds for student lunches at the high school and middle school, the equivalent of about five teaching positions, the elementary school principal position, two food service positions, athletic programs for sixth-graders and some student bus transportation.
The plan also calls for imposing new athletic fees for sports participation, collecting other fees for fitness center and building usage, trimming some salaries for coaches, and reconfiguring pre-school services.
The package of cuts, which could come to a vote at the April 17 school board meeting, would nearly eliminate a $400,000 deficit projected in the school district’s budget for next year.
The prospect of such painful spending cuts elicited an emotional response Monday from many of the estimated 75 people who crowded into the high school cafeteria. Voters rejected the measure by a vote of 708-602.
Parent Nicole Onesti choked back tears as she described her children offering to break open their piggy banks to support the teachers that they appreciate.
“This community needs this school, and we need our teachers,” Onesti said. “They mean a lot to us.”
No details were announced indicating specifically which teaching positions would be cut, although they would include three full-time teachers at the elementary school.
Bonduel Elementary School Principal Peggy Jones, who has already announced retirement plans, would not be replaced, and oversight of the elementary school would be shared by other administrators.
On the issue of student lunches, District Administrator Patrick Rau said he was exploring options for dropping school-provided lunches at the high school and middle school. If the lunches are eliminated, the district might try to bring in outside providers to offer lunches for sale.
“I have to find answers,” Rau said.
The district employs more than 100 teachers, counselors and others to serve about 800 students at the high school, middle school and elementary school. The annual budget of $12.4 million, including $4.3 million in property taxes, has been strained in recent years by flat property values and declining student enrollment.
The referendum defeated last week would have authorized the district to collect an additional $1 million in property taxes annually over the next three years.
At Monday’s meeting, many community members questioned whether the district had done enough to promote the ballot measure and to make clear that the alternative would involve painful budget cuts. The district held community meetings, private meetings and distributed direct mailings.
Resident Jim Watry, who said he voted for the referendum, said he suspects that opposition was fueled by uncertainty over how the extra $1 million a year would be spent.
“I just heard a lot of people say ‘no,’” Watry said. “I was kind of surprised by that.”
Others in the crowd urged school administrators to consider holding another referendum. Some even offered to take an active role in campaigning for passage this time.
Officials said state law would allow the district to hold another referendum in a couple of months.
Parent Jason Wesenberg said some voters might have been confused by recent reports that state funding for public schools could be increasing next year. He said local residents should take responsibility for funding their own schools.
“I’m very confident that the people of this community will support the children,” he said. “It’s just a question of finding that price point.”