ALBANY - Next month, Brodhead and Black Hawk school district residents will go to the polls April 6 to determine if the districts can exceed the state-mandated revenue caps.
The Brodhead district is asking residents to exceed the revenue caps by $393,000 in 2010-11; $567,000 in 2011-12; and $797,100 in 2012-13. It's Brodhead's second referendum this year. The first, held Feb. 16, failed by a 55 percent to 45 percent vote.
Black Hawk School district is asking residents to approve an $800,000 recurring referendum.
It's a scenario familiar to Albany residents.
It's been almost a year since the Albany School District held two referendums. By a vote of 539 to 257, voters approved a referendum to allow the district to make improvements to the roof and heating system. And by a vote of 459 to 333, residents voted to allow the district to exceed the state-mandated revenue caps by $1.75 million over the next four years.
Albany School Board President Fairy Elmer said her district faced a difficult choice when residents were asked to allow the school to spend more money.
To combat that, the district held several meetings and tried to keep residents involved and informed, she said.
"We were forthright and honest with them," Elmer said. "We had nothing to hide."
Although she didn't offer advice to other school districts, the route Albany took was to provide as much information to residents as possible.
"We explained why we needed to pass them. We were able to explain the district's financial situation," Elmer said.
A school district should try to information to voters, and should try to get it out to the public in a timely manner.
To get its message to the voters, the Albany district held four listening sessions, sent out a mailer to every home in the district and took part in radio interviews.
That the referendums passed was also a testament to the community, Elmer said.
"Keep in mind the economy was much different last year than this year," she said, "but people know the school is the heart of this community."
There are still some people who remind board members and school staff that they opposed the referendum. Elmer said that's not such a bad thing.
"You want to hear their concerns," she said. "A referendum is hard no matter what district you're in."
The Brodhead district is asking residents to exceed the revenue caps by $393,000 in 2010-11; $567,000 in 2011-12; and $797,100 in 2012-13. It's Brodhead's second referendum this year. The first, held Feb. 16, failed by a 55 percent to 45 percent vote.
Black Hawk School district is asking residents to approve an $800,000 recurring referendum.
It's a scenario familiar to Albany residents.
It's been almost a year since the Albany School District held two referendums. By a vote of 539 to 257, voters approved a referendum to allow the district to make improvements to the roof and heating system. And by a vote of 459 to 333, residents voted to allow the district to exceed the state-mandated revenue caps by $1.75 million over the next four years.
Albany School Board President Fairy Elmer said her district faced a difficult choice when residents were asked to allow the school to spend more money.
To combat that, the district held several meetings and tried to keep residents involved and informed, she said.
"We were forthright and honest with them," Elmer said. "We had nothing to hide."
Although she didn't offer advice to other school districts, the route Albany took was to provide as much information to residents as possible.
"We explained why we needed to pass them. We were able to explain the district's financial situation," Elmer said.
A school district should try to information to voters, and should try to get it out to the public in a timely manner.
To get its message to the voters, the Albany district held four listening sessions, sent out a mailer to every home in the district and took part in radio interviews.
That the referendums passed was also a testament to the community, Elmer said.
"Keep in mind the economy was much different last year than this year," she said, "but people know the school is the heart of this community."
There are still some people who remind board members and school staff that they opposed the referendum. Elmer said that's not such a bad thing.
"You want to hear their concerns," she said. "A referendum is hard no matter what district you're in."