BRODHEAD - There was no shortage of opinions and suggestions Thursday as the Brodhead School Board held a public meeting to find out the best way to approach a second referendum this spring.
If anything definite was learned from the meeting it was that Brodhead residents don't want to see large cuts in school programs, but they're also concerned about an increase in taxes.
Some residents said they wished they had been given more information about the school's financial problems before being asked to approve a referendum that would have increased their property taxes.
"I'm willing to spend $40 a month (in increased taxes), but I want to know what it's being spent for," Brodhead resident Ken Hoelsy said to the board.
By a vote of 1,021 to 828, Brodhead residents rejected a referendum Tuesday that would have allowed the district to exceed state-mandated spending limits to pay for district operational costs and for a new roof at the high school.
At Thursday's meeting, which was attended by about 200 people, residents expressed concerns that the quality of education in Brodhead would be adversely affected if a second referendum failed and about $435,000 in cuts have to be made.
It was learned that about 180 parents have asked the school about open enrolling out of the district since Tuesday's election. Residents were told if the district lost 180 kids it would mean a financial loss of about $1.17 million in state aid. That would make an already difficult financial situation even more difficult, District Superintendent Charles Deery said.
Mike Goecks, president of the Brodhead Education Association, told the audience that an informal survey among the teachers was done Thursday and the teachers would be willing to renegotiate their contracts, which could save the district between $70,000 and $80,000 a year.
Goecks said teachers are "willing to step up to the plate," but he said, district residents must do the same
Deery said administrators have already concluded that their wages would be frozen next year, which would save the district about $15,000.
"Those amounts won't solve the deficit problem," Deery said.
The board told residents that if a second referendum isn't passed, the district will lose six teachers and two administrators in addition to extra curricular activities, including sports.
Some in the audience said they felt the loss of sports was a scare tactic to get people to support a referendum. Board president Peggy Olsen said it was unfortunate people considered the loss of sports as an ultimatum. She said the board was honest about the cuts that would have to be made and sports was included in those cuts.
Brodhead spends about $159,000 a year for its sports programs, Olsen said.
It was suggested by Brodhead district residents that the school system increase fees for extra curricular activities. Deery explained that an increase in fees would mean a loss in state aid because that extra money would be counted toward the district's revenue.
In Tuesday's referendum, the district asked residents to exceed the state-mandated property tax revenue limits by $635,000 in the 2010-11 school year; $810,000 in the 2011-12 school year; $855,000 in the 2012-12 school year; and $1,285,000 in the 2013-14 school year.
The tax rate for the school district this year was $8.45 per $1,000 of equalized property value. Had the referendum passed, projected tax rates during the next four years were $8.85 in 2010-11; $9.89 for 2011-12; $10.09 for 2012-13; and $10.73 for 2013-14.
Retired high school teacher Mike McGoff suggested the board organize an impartial community committee to look at the district's budget.
"Being on the inside and outside, I know waste occurs," McGoff said.
The committee should review the budgets every year, he added.
Several residents asked the board to be more open with financial information, and suggested people would be more willing to support a second referendum.
After listening to students ask that the referendum pass, Brodhead resident Dana Shanks said he was "ashamed to have kids coming to us to beg."
He said he also was bothered by the charges by some that the school board hasn't been truthful or responsible with the district's money.
"I know we all want answers, but don't we trust them to do their jobs," he asked. "It's $40 (extra in property taxes). If this doesn't pass your property values are going to fall."
The board will meet again at 6 p.m. tonight in the high school to finalize wording for an April 6 referendum.
If anything definite was learned from the meeting it was that Brodhead residents don't want to see large cuts in school programs, but they're also concerned about an increase in taxes.
Some residents said they wished they had been given more information about the school's financial problems before being asked to approve a referendum that would have increased their property taxes.
"I'm willing to spend $40 a month (in increased taxes), but I want to know what it's being spent for," Brodhead resident Ken Hoelsy said to the board.
By a vote of 1,021 to 828, Brodhead residents rejected a referendum Tuesday that would have allowed the district to exceed state-mandated spending limits to pay for district operational costs and for a new roof at the high school.
At Thursday's meeting, which was attended by about 200 people, residents expressed concerns that the quality of education in Brodhead would be adversely affected if a second referendum failed and about $435,000 in cuts have to be made.
It was learned that about 180 parents have asked the school about open enrolling out of the district since Tuesday's election. Residents were told if the district lost 180 kids it would mean a financial loss of about $1.17 million in state aid. That would make an already difficult financial situation even more difficult, District Superintendent Charles Deery said.
Mike Goecks, president of the Brodhead Education Association, told the audience that an informal survey among the teachers was done Thursday and the teachers would be willing to renegotiate their contracts, which could save the district between $70,000 and $80,000 a year.
Goecks said teachers are "willing to step up to the plate," but he said, district residents must do the same
Deery said administrators have already concluded that their wages would be frozen next year, which would save the district about $15,000.
"Those amounts won't solve the deficit problem," Deery said.
The board told residents that if a second referendum isn't passed, the district will lose six teachers and two administrators in addition to extra curricular activities, including sports.
Some in the audience said they felt the loss of sports was a scare tactic to get people to support a referendum. Board president Peggy Olsen said it was unfortunate people considered the loss of sports as an ultimatum. She said the board was honest about the cuts that would have to be made and sports was included in those cuts.
Brodhead spends about $159,000 a year for its sports programs, Olsen said.
It was suggested by Brodhead district residents that the school system increase fees for extra curricular activities. Deery explained that an increase in fees would mean a loss in state aid because that extra money would be counted toward the district's revenue.
In Tuesday's referendum, the district asked residents to exceed the state-mandated property tax revenue limits by $635,000 in the 2010-11 school year; $810,000 in the 2011-12 school year; $855,000 in the 2012-12 school year; and $1,285,000 in the 2013-14 school year.
The tax rate for the school district this year was $8.45 per $1,000 of equalized property value. Had the referendum passed, projected tax rates during the next four years were $8.85 in 2010-11; $9.89 for 2011-12; $10.09 for 2012-13; and $10.73 for 2013-14.
Retired high school teacher Mike McGoff suggested the board organize an impartial community committee to look at the district's budget.
"Being on the inside and outside, I know waste occurs," McGoff said.
The committee should review the budgets every year, he added.
Several residents asked the board to be more open with financial information, and suggested people would be more willing to support a second referendum.
After listening to students ask that the referendum pass, Brodhead resident Dana Shanks said he was "ashamed to have kids coming to us to beg."
He said he also was bothered by the charges by some that the school board hasn't been truthful or responsible with the district's money.
"I know we all want answers, but don't we trust them to do their jobs," he asked. "It's $40 (extra in property taxes). If this doesn't pass your property values are going to fall."
The board will meet again at 6 p.m. tonight in the high school to finalize wording for an April 6 referendum.