MONROE — In the latest in a series of “Listening Sessions” offered around town by School District Officials in advance of a $2.75 million referendum question, officials said on Monday, March 7 at the Behring Senior Center that success April 7 is vital to keep quality schools — and to keep more students from fleeing the district.

“You’d see a parade of kids leaving the district and the community,” said District Business Manager Ron Olson, in response to an audience question about whether the district had seriously considered cutting sports and other extracurriculars like drama and music.

“I would hate to see us give up on that,” said another audience member, as many others in the packed auditorium nodded in agreement. Even the attendee who asked the question said he was not advocating for such cuts, and officials also added that few districts anywhere ever touch those programs because they are considered vital by communities almost universally.

At issue: State spending on local spending remains wholly insufficient for districts across Wisconsin, they emphasize. And the district has already made more than $1 million in cuts last year, and is poised to repeat the same cycle if it loses the vote next time.

The board agreed to the four-year, recurring referendum at its January 5 regular meeting, following identification of about $2 million in drastic program cuts that eliminate more than 20 full-time positions, including many teachers. 

In the meantime, detailing those — and even finalizing their implementation — has been their mission ever since.

The district’s dire straits began in earnest with the loss in 2024 of $1.5 million in annual boost from the operating referendum’s failure at the polls, which was proceeded by a major referendum win with voters approving $88 million that did — among other things — fund the new high school opening this spring on the far east side. 

In Wisconsin, 82% of school districts have pursued referendums to sustain staffing and programs. And in 2024 alone, 131 districts brought a combined 148 operational referendum questions to voters.

Those targeted budget cuts are not a threat, officials said, but a concrete plan if the referendum fails again. 

Superintendent Joe Monroe said the cuts to existing school programs — such as the entire German language program — have had a cumulative effect on education in Monroe, and the options for kids to learn are huge for alternative learners and those with special needs. Many teachers have already been lost to previous rounds of cost cutting.

“You can quickly see we would be at 50 positions lost in the past five years, that is the unfortunate reality,” he added.

Critics and some lawmakers contend that local school financial problems are due to several factors, like bloated administration costs, decreased enrollment and unpredictable inflation, rather than declining state revenue. Yet the enrollment problem would only be worsened by further impacting sports, drama, clubs, and other extracurriculars, local school officials said.

Meanwhile, the district is even considering all available options to cover the cash float, including selling the Bauer Education Center. The last round of major cuts in Monroe had other lasting impacts — among them losing a special education teacher and two special education aides. They also meant that about 300 of the 1,000 students attending summer school last year lost bus rides to and from school. Other bus routes were cut and more could be identified.

Along with the sports programs, another resident asked why additional administration cuts were not on the table

“It is the group that makes the most sense, and it’s perceived to be furthest away from the students,” said Supt. Monroe.

He added that it is a common question as he talks to the community about the importance of voting for the referendum. The district is not shy about cutting programs, both officials said, and is trying to maintain trust with the community — offering to think alternatively about spending in such ways as selling the Bauer Education Center downtown.

As for the referendum, according to district officials, the owner of a $200,000 home will pay an additional $272 annually and $22.66 monthly in extra taxes if the referendum gets a yes vote; and the owner of a $300,00 home would pay an additional $408, or $34 monthly. 

Another audience member at Monday’s session encouraged the community to get more committed to helping the schools by volunteering in them personally — virtually all schools and programs can and do use volunteers, given their availability and skill set.

“Oh, more people used to volunteer,” said another participant and the crowd of mostly senior residents and local leaders readily agreed.

The district has posted all key financial presentations and documents related to the referendum on its web site at https://www.monroeschools.com/.