MONROE – Judge Thomas Vale ruled in favor of the School District of Monroe and the Board of Education in a lawsuit brought on by four taxpayers, which had hoped reverse the $88 million referendum passed in Nov. 2022. The decision, which was made on May 3 in front of a courtroom of spectators and many more watching online, allows the hotly contested Monroe schools referendum to continue in full.  

The referendum was passed by just under 10% of School District of Monroe voters in Nov. 2022. In it were two major projects: the renovation of Abraham Lincoln Elementary School, and building a new Monroe High School on a new site.

In early 2023, taxpayers Dale Howarth, Merlyn Gordee, Larry Koschkee and Catherine Kuckuk filed a lawsuit against the district and school board in Green County Circuit Court, hoping to throw out the results of the referendum. They argued the district and board misled the public on the tax impact of the referendum.

To read more on the hearing and what comes next for the district, grab a copy of the Saturday, May 6 edition of the Times.