Schools use referendums to balance budgets
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Charles J. Deery
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Steve Lutzke
When Parkview Superintendent Steve Lutzke talks to fellow superintendents, the question isn’t, “Are you going to referendum?”
The question is, “When are you going to referendum?”
Declining enrollments and increasing costs that exceed revenue limits plague the Orfordville-based Parkview School District and its neighbor to the west, Brodhead. The results are referendums in both districts April 6 asking voters for permission to exceed state revenue caps.
“They have a lot of company,” said John Ashley, executive director of the Wisconsin Association of School Boards.
Parkview and Brodhead join 34 other districts in the state planning 48 referendums on next month’s ballot. Of those, 26 referendums are to exceed revenue caps.
“We’re not surprised because we know that state aid was reduced to our school districts,” Ashley said. “As a result, the difference had to be made somewhere.”
The push for referendums likely will continue across the state, school officials agree.
“Most school districts really don’t have any other place to go on the expenditure side,” said Tony Evers, state superintendent of public instruction. “They turn to taxpayers and ask for assistance.”
“The districts that dodged the bullet in the past are finding (with) the revenue caps and reduced aid, it’s finally touching their communities, as well,” Ashley said.
The perfect storm
Declining enrollments and cuts in state aid and revenue limits are causing the budget turmoil.
The state funding system is set up in such a way that districts with stable or declining enrollments are “going to have to go to referendum,” Brodhead Superintendent Chuck Deery said.
“There’s just no way around it,” he said.
Expenses—many of which are beyond the local boards’ control, such as utilities—are increasing beyond what revenue caps allow, he said.
This school year, state aid decreased in many districts. Parkview’s aid fell $340,000, Lutzke said.
“We’re actually running the school on (nearly) 1 percent less than last year,” he said Tuesday, noting he had issued layoff notices to two teachers that day.
The district’s operating budget went from $11,134,341 in 2008-09 to $11,035,836 this year.
Districts are allowed a per-student increase in revenue limits each year, but that increase was cut from $275 in 2008-09 to $200 per student this year and for next year, said Dale Knapp, research director at the Wisconsin Taxpayer Alliance.
At Parkview, the $274.68 per pupil revenue increase for 1,099 students last year brought an increase in revenue of $301,873, Lutzke said. This year, the $200 per pupil increase coupled with a decreased enrollment of 1,086 brought the per pupil total revenue increase to $217,200.
“Essentially, districts are collecting less revenue this year than they thought they were going to be,” Knapp said. “Those districts that were already struggling with the caps, the pressure gets even worse this year and next year by limiting the allowable increase.”
Declining enrollment
The Parkview and Brodhead districts, located in southwestern Rock County and southeastern Green County, have seen enrollments drop in recent years, and projections indicate the trend will continue.
A population study in Brodhead 10 years ago found the birth rate in southern Wisconsin was decreasing, Deery said. Back then, Brodhead still benefited for a few more years from families moving into new subdivisions to commute to Madison, Janesville and Beloit, he said.
The birth rate continues to decrease, but now Brodhead isn’t seeing the influx of commuters because of higher gas prices, he said.
In Orfordville, Lutzke admits that some students have left the district for better sports opportunities or because they weren’t happy with administrative or board decisions.
“Generally, our decline seems to be fewer families living in the area,” he said.
He referred to the “brain drain” that much of the state is experiencing when students graduate from college and settle in larger metro areas such as the Twin Cities or Chicago.
“The rural parts of the state, I think, experience that more than the urban areas,” he said.
The class sizes of incoming 4-year-old and 5-year-old students are 60 percent to 75 percent of the size of the graduating classes, he said.
Declining enrollments are affecting much of the state, aside from pockets that include the Hudson area, parts of Dane County and the Fox Valley, officials said. Dozens of elementary schools in rural areas have closed around the state, and the results of referendums next month will determine the fates of many more.
“For the most part, I’d say our enrollment statewide is relatively stable and declining in a small way,” Evers said. “Rural areas of the state are becoming decimated with declining enrollment.”
The future
Apart from major changes in the funding formula, which have been long discussed but never enacted, Evers said budgets will find some relief when the state’s economy improves. An upturn provides more revenue for the state to distribute to municipalities and schools, he said.
“Once we turn the corner economically, it will be much easier to talk about the funding formula,” he said. “Whether it’s fair, the fact of the matter is the pot is static right now, and we have to get it to the point where it’s growing.”
Earlier this month, Gov. Jim Doyle announced he was dropping his proposal for school funding reform. That effort began more than a year ago.
Rep. Brett Davis, R-Oregon, plans to introduce legislation soon to “give school boards the tools that they need to help control their costs better,” he said.
His proposal calls for reinstating the qualified economic offer and aligning it with revenue caps; forcing arbitrators to consider local economic conditions; and giving school boards the authority to provide teachers with the same health benefits that state workers receive or the equivalent.
In February, several Democratic legislators who represent rural areas introduced proposals aimed at helping rural schools. Plans include expanding and reforming the SAGE program for disadvantaged students, increasing flexibility for districts facing declining enrollment or consolidation, and improving the school transportation aid program.
“The bottom line is it’s a very challenging time for our school board members and districts around Wisconsin,” Ashley said. “The good news is we see great education happening in Wisconsin.”
Mar 23, 2010 at 7:44 p.m.
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lol, it is listed under "rights" in the constitution and you declare it a gotcha....
Mar 23, 2010 at 12:48 p.m.
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You really are something else RAF. You didn't ask me why transportation is provided for private school children; you asked me, "Do you know why transportation for kids is provided in this sate?" I gave you plenty of references and reasons why transportation is provided to children in Wisconsin. If you had been more specific, I would have mentioned that the same statute I mentioned earlier ALSO references requirements for transportation and reporting of private school children. Besides, your reference to the Wisconsin Constitution only points out that nothing may prohibit the state from providing transportation for private/parochial students. It does not guarantee those services. However, IT DOES UNDER § 121.54. Frankly, I resent your "gotcha" attitude for pointing out one reference I didn't list. Get a life.
Mar 23, 2010 at 11:36 a.m.
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No. The Wisconsin Constitution article 1 section 23 declares this is a right.
I would have hoped someone who works for the school district would understand the rights of school children and the constitution of the state.
"Nothing in this constitution shall prohibit the legislature from providing for the safety and welfare of children by providing for the transportation of children to and from any parochial or private school or institution of learning."
Mar 23, 2010 at 10:46 a.m.
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Multiple reasons:
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1.) § 121.54(2)(a) "...every school board shall provide transportation to and from public school for all pupils who reside in the school district 2 miles or more from the nearest public school they are entitled to attend."
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2.) § 121.56 The school board of each district shall make and be responsible for all necessary provisions for the transportation of pupils, including establishment, administration and scheduling of school bus routes. Upon the request of any school board, the state superintendent shall provide advice and counsel on problems of school transportation. Any private school shall, upon the request of the public school officials, supply all necessary information and reports. The transportation of public and private school pupils shall be effectively coordinated to insure the safety and welfare of the pupils. Upon receipt of a signed order from the state superintendent, the school board shall discontinue any route specified by the state superintendent
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3.) The NHTSA has stated that buses are the safest way to transport school age children.
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4.) Many school districts transporting students must evaluate using WiDOT guidelines which roadways are deemed "hazardous." If a student is to be transported within the boundaries of a school district (private or public), the student is eligible for transportation services if a hazardous roadway is deemed "hazardous." Hazardous could be a busy roadway, poor crossing, or other difficultly that makes it dangerous for a school age child to cross assisted or unassisted.
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5.) Special transportation of students with special needs is needed if a student has accomodations needs that normal school bus transportation cannot provide (i.e. some specialized child safety restraint systems (CSRSs)). These students are entitled to transportation under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Educaition Act (IDEA).
Mar 23, 2010 at 10:01 a.m.
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I’m glad you dropped your previous stance of "tell me why parochial students leaving 8th grade for public high school are ridiculously behind their public school peers academically", by further admitting there are some of these school that perform better than public schools. I have no doubts that not all are of the same caliber, just as I have no doubts they do not all fall ridiculously behind their public school peers academically as you first stated.
I am still wondering if you know why transportation is provided to the schools as you complained of. Being that you work in the school system this should be a simple answer for you.
Mar 23, 2010 at 7:36 a.m.
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RAF - Don't be so presumptuous. If you can't find one document about the ongoing debate between private and public schools, I don't see why you even bother posting. You want a study? HERE: http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/pdf.... Next time you want to use rhetorical comments, at least attempt to do some research. Pay special attention to the pages following the executive summary. Notice that many of the comparisons made between public and private institutions are pointless due to the lack of random sampling and other mitigating factors such as that private institutions have VERY selective enrollments. You want to argue about that? I work in the public schools. I've seen multiple cases of private schools that dump kids on the public system because they can't provide needed services, or don't want to deal with the behavior issues. We were happy to take them, but it is a SAD reality that destroys fair comparisons among educational institutions.
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I do not care for private/parochial educational institutions because I know them to be very inconsistent. Are there private/parochial schools that perform better than public schools? Of course. That's not my point. My point is that we have become a community that points fingers at the "failures" of the public educational system and their large tax burden. I blame the state for diminishing the importance of this institution and gutting the state aid and revenue limit formulas. What we fail to recognize is that the public school system is trying to do everything with stringent limitations on funding, curriculum requirements set by the state and federal government, mandates to provide services and resources for ALL students regardless of ability or disability, aging facility needs, etc. If this system is NOT given priority, the alternative is a mixed bag of private/parochial institutions that gives the parents a very diminished control over their child's education and may leave some parents with no way to GET services for special needs children.
Mar 22, 2010 at 7:51 p.m.
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"They also do not pay for their own transporation services - the public schools pick those up too. "
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Do you know why transportation for kids is provided in this sate? If you don't it is a shame.
Mar 22, 2010 at 7:48 p.m.
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So what you are saying is there is no data...just your conclusions.
Mar 22, 2010 at 2:07 p.m.
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backthecards - I actually like the QEO. It's good for cost controls, but the revenue cap has been artificially lowered year after year because the state doesn't see inflationary increases in educational spending as a funding priority. Also, we are NOT the only system funded solely by tax dollars. Most, if not all, school districts are funded that way directly or indirectly.
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Kara - virtual schools are perfectly fine for students that learn well that way, but most of the latest virtual schools are part of the public system already. Notice I didn't say "virutal schools" in my previous post.
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RAF - You've GOT to be kidding. Private/parochials schools are not required to be accredited, have qualified teachers, or teacher any standardized curriculum. Most of them do not provide ANY specialized or accomodating curriculum (special education), requiring public schools to provide services. They also do not pay for their own transporation services - the public schools pick those up too. Is it any wonder that the kids coming out of those programs are at completely different levels... even amongst other private/parochial institutions?
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oldtimer - I agree. I would love to see another district propose cutting sports. Broadhead sure took a lot of heat for proposing it, but it is NOT why our kids go to school.
Mar 22, 2010 at 12:41 p.m.
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rossnmeg, I think you got it backwards. anyway referrandums are not the answer, you cannot solve problems that way. you must get back to basics, cut. maybe forget sports? concentrate on a higher education? those that think sports are they only thing let them transfer and concentrate on your shool for higher academics. maybe then we will be able to hold our own, and above all hire only the best teachers.
Mar 22, 2010 at 10:27 a.m.
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"perhaps you can tell me why parochial students leaving 8th grade for public high school are ridiculously behind their public school peers academically? Anyone?"
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I would love to see the study backing this data.
Mar 22, 2010 at 10:09 a.m.
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rossnmeg, virtual schools are a very good option and offer more choice in class selection than most public schools. They are taught by some of the very same public school teachers who have left the public systems because they are tired of the b.s. that goes on in brick and mortar.
Mar 22, 2010 at 9:37 a.m.
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Yes, the system is broken. Before 1993 a school district could just raise your taxes, with the QEO placed on schools in 1993 that protected the taxes payers. Great idea, however, no one had an idea of how to fund schools. Cost go up and rev. goes down for a number of reasons. The spand of rev coming in and cost going out gets bigger and bigger. I believe we are one of only a few states that are soley funded by property tazes. We need to have another source of rev for these school districts. Its easy to place blame on the admin staff but its not their fault. Its Tommy Thompsons fault way back in the day to just put a band aid on a huge problem
Mar 22, 2010 at 8:25 a.m.
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Cause and effect people... if you emaciate the funding for public education, it's not going to continually improve. Anyone who wants to tout how private/parochial schools are "better," answer me this: what does that school use to measure achievement? What standards do they use? Or perhaps you can tell me why parochial students leaving 8th grade for public high school are ridiculously behind their public school peers academically? Anyone?
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The public school system is NOT broken. It is no longer a priority - which scares me. The alternatives out there are not good, and they have no consistency with other educational institutions.
Mar 22, 2010 at 7:19 a.m.
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One of the reasons public schools have seen declining enrollment over the last couple years is quite simply. They have failed. Yes some people have moved. But look at the huge numbers during open enrollment. It says a lot. Not just about Janesville but all schools. Look at the number of kids in virtual schools, and private schools. These schools need to make changes in their attitude and academics or enrollment will continue to drop.
Mar 21, 2010 at 9:42 p.m.
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How does the amount of money spent on K-12 compare to the money spent on law enforcement, prosecution, and incarceration? How has the ratio between the 2 changed across the years? Such statistics would tell us about the choices we make.
Mar 21, 2010 at 5:52 p.m.
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"we see great education happening in Wisconsin"...............in public schools?.......yah, for maybe about ten percent of the student population that fits their mold.
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