November 18, 2015 at 4:41 p.m.
School board formally approves referendum question
District seeking $5 million a year for three years
School board formally approves referendum question
The two resolutions, one to exceed the revenue cap and a second to ask the voters for permission to do so by referendum, was a legal formality the board had to go through, according to School District of Rhinelander Superintendent Kelli Jacobi and Director of Business Services Marta Kwiatkowski. Both resolutions set the formal language of the referendum question as it will appear on the ballot.
"This is the requirement that we put in place what the actual language is going to be," Jacobi said. "So you're committing, if you decide to go with this resolution."
Jacobi then read the referendum question, so the board would know exactly what the district will be asking the voters to approve. The district will ask for $5 million a year for three years on a non-recurring basis. (See box)
"That is what the motion will get you," she said.
Board vice president Judy Conlin made a motion to approve the first resolution. Board treasurer Mike Roberts seconded the motion and it passed unanimously by voice vote. Conlin then made a motion to approve the second resolution, which Ann Munninghoff-Eshelman seconded. It passed by a unanimous voice vote.
Kwiatkowski said the board was not required to include the date of the election in either motion, but the resolutions had to be formally approved before Dec. 5 in order for the question to appear on the ballot.
The resolutions and final referendum question were approved by the district's law firm Quarles and Brady.
If the referendum fails, Jacobi has said the district is looking at having to cut an average of $5.5 million a year from its budget over the next three years as state aid continues to decline.
The board also approved a fundraising request by the high school dance team, which is standard procedure when school clubs and organizations want to directly approach local businesses for cash donations. The dance team is raising money to attend the National Dance Competition in Minneapolis in February. The request was approved unanimously by the Operations and Strategic Planning Committee.
Board member Dennis O'Brien questioned why groups have to bring such requests to the board for approval.
"We see various student groups come before us and ask for the right to solicit funds and have fundraisers," O'Brien said. "Is there a reason why we can't just offer a general policy that would address that and allow them do it without having to come as individual groups in front of us?"
Counter said that there had been problems in the past, before Jacobi was hired as superintendent, with groups overusing such a blanket policy.
"If you are willing to consider it, I'd be willing to send it to committee," Counter said.
"In general, I have not heard of anybody asking to raise money that I would have objected to," O'Brien said. "I just think that sometimes having to go through every group isn't necessary, but maybe there's a reason why."
Board member Duane Frey said the board should know which groups are out in the community directly soliciting funds.
"Just so we can hear from administration that they approve it," Frey said. "Because there are a lot of things going on out there. Then I can honestly say to businesses, yes, that's been approved, and we kind of got a handle on it."
Roberts said fundraising where groups are soliciting businesses directly for cash contributions needs board approval. Other forms of fundraising don't require board approval.
"A lot of the clubs and booster clubs, they sell pizzas and cards and different things that way," Roberts said. "In the past, there was a problem with many different clubs that just wanted to go out and solicit money, and I think that became an issue."
The request was approved unanimously.
The board also approved a similar request for the high school band and choir department to raise funds to travel to Orlando, Fla..during the 2016-17 spring break to attend workshops and perform at Walt Disney World.
Jamie Taylor may be reached at [email protected].
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