MONROE - Like other school officials across the state, Monroe school district board members are trying to determine what impact the state's lingering budget impasse and showdown over collective bargaining will ultimately have on their own budget.
Meanwhile, the district is moving forward with plans for an $8 million referendum to fund operating expenses.
Those issues are on the agenda for a special board meeting set for 6:30 p.m. tonight.
"This will be our first meeting since this all started," said board president Pam Wyss, referring to ongoing protests over collective bargaining and Gov. Scott Walker's budget repair bill in Madison. "Just like everyone else, we're waiting to see the end result."
Longtime board member and current treasurer Larry Eakins agreed, adding that it's difficult to plan in the midst of so much uncertainty over school funding.
"I'm really waiting to see what happens from a state budget standpoint," said Eakins. "I think even the (state worker and teacher) unions realize the state has a budget problem it needs to fix."
Eakins said he can't speak for the entire board, but acknowledged the unprecedented nature of recent events - and how they have put school officials in limbo. That's because, apart from the collective bargaining issue, Walker hasn't finished his proposed Wisconsin budget: Walker is expected to announce a decrease in state aid to local districts when he unveils his budget March 1.
The battle over Walker's bill is making planning a local school budget even more difficult than usual, Monroe Superintendent Larry Brown agreed. Like everyone else, administrators are waiting to see what the decision will be when, or if, a vote on the budget bill is taken.
In the interim, officials are "trying to use the best information we can get a hold of to try to have plans in place," Brown said.
Eakins said he agrees with Walker that the state is in dire fiscal straights, but added the governor's tactics with regard to public worker unions are off the mark.
"I think the compromise offered up by (State Sen.) Dale Schultz is the way to go," said Eakins, referring to a plan pushed by the Richland Center Republican in which collective bargaining for public employees would be suspended until 2013 and then restored. "It may not be perfect, but we can't keep fighting with teachers and other unions across the state."
Eakins also lauded Monroe teachers for staying on the job - when so many across the state left last week to protest Walker's plan to end collective bargaining, shuttering some schools in the process.
"I think they deserve congratulations for their commitment to classrooms and doing their jobs," he said.
Brown said teachers here are handling the emotion-packed debate "appropriately."
There were 12 teachers absent from school Thursday, and five on Friday. He said he is personally looking at those absences and will determine if any action is needed.
Brown also said has spoken to the local teachers' union regularly throughout the debate. "I'm pleased with the communication we've had," he said.
Monroe teachers are covered by a contract through this year, but negotiations are likely to begin soon on a pact starting with the 2011-12 school year.
Also up for discussion tonight is the district's upcoming referendum which, regardless of the ultimate outcome of Walker's bill, could be hurt by the timing of the state stalemate over Walker's bill.
"It certainly blurs our message," Brown said. "The timing is really not good for our district in particular."
The school board, at its last meeting earlier this month, finalized a four-year, nonrecurring referendum for $8 million. The measure will be on the April 5 ballot.
With or without the referendum, the district has agreed to make $494,652 in cuts for the 2011-12 school year. Without a referendum, the district is projected to have a deficit of about $1.6 million in the 2011-12 school year - and even higher deficits in subsequent years.
-Editor Mary Jane Grenzow contributed to
this report.
Meanwhile, the district is moving forward with plans for an $8 million referendum to fund operating expenses.
Those issues are on the agenda for a special board meeting set for 6:30 p.m. tonight.
"This will be our first meeting since this all started," said board president Pam Wyss, referring to ongoing protests over collective bargaining and Gov. Scott Walker's budget repair bill in Madison. "Just like everyone else, we're waiting to see the end result."
Longtime board member and current treasurer Larry Eakins agreed, adding that it's difficult to plan in the midst of so much uncertainty over school funding.
"I'm really waiting to see what happens from a state budget standpoint," said Eakins. "I think even the (state worker and teacher) unions realize the state has a budget problem it needs to fix."
Eakins said he can't speak for the entire board, but acknowledged the unprecedented nature of recent events - and how they have put school officials in limbo. That's because, apart from the collective bargaining issue, Walker hasn't finished his proposed Wisconsin budget: Walker is expected to announce a decrease in state aid to local districts when he unveils his budget March 1.
The battle over Walker's bill is making planning a local school budget even more difficult than usual, Monroe Superintendent Larry Brown agreed. Like everyone else, administrators are waiting to see what the decision will be when, or if, a vote on the budget bill is taken.
In the interim, officials are "trying to use the best information we can get a hold of to try to have plans in place," Brown said.
Eakins said he agrees with Walker that the state is in dire fiscal straights, but added the governor's tactics with regard to public worker unions are off the mark.
"I think the compromise offered up by (State Sen.) Dale Schultz is the way to go," said Eakins, referring to a plan pushed by the Richland Center Republican in which collective bargaining for public employees would be suspended until 2013 and then restored. "It may not be perfect, but we can't keep fighting with teachers and other unions across the state."
Eakins also lauded Monroe teachers for staying on the job - when so many across the state left last week to protest Walker's plan to end collective bargaining, shuttering some schools in the process.
"I think they deserve congratulations for their commitment to classrooms and doing their jobs," he said.
Brown said teachers here are handling the emotion-packed debate "appropriately."
There were 12 teachers absent from school Thursday, and five on Friday. He said he is personally looking at those absences and will determine if any action is needed.
Brown also said has spoken to the local teachers' union regularly throughout the debate. "I'm pleased with the communication we've had," he said.
Monroe teachers are covered by a contract through this year, but negotiations are likely to begin soon on a pact starting with the 2011-12 school year.
Also up for discussion tonight is the district's upcoming referendum which, regardless of the ultimate outcome of Walker's bill, could be hurt by the timing of the state stalemate over Walker's bill.
"It certainly blurs our message," Brown said. "The timing is really not good for our district in particular."
The school board, at its last meeting earlier this month, finalized a four-year, nonrecurring referendum for $8 million. The measure will be on the April 5 ballot.
With or without the referendum, the district has agreed to make $494,652 in cuts for the 2011-12 school year. Without a referendum, the district is projected to have a deficit of about $1.6 million in the 2011-12 school year - and even higher deficits in subsequent years.
-Editor Mary Jane Grenzow contributed to
this report.