BRODHEAD - A referendum that would allow the school district to exceed revenue caps is the big issue in the race for Brodhead School Board.
Two incumbent candidates, board president Peggy Olsen, and Carol Kloepping, are being challenged by two write-in candidates, Allen Schneider and Paul Donovan for two seats on the board.
Schneider and Donovan entered the race after the board decided to hold a second referendum for the April 6 election. The first referendum, which took place Feb. 16, failed by a 55 to 45 percent margin.
As board president, Olsen, who has been a board member since 2001, has taken the lead at community meetings about the referendum.
"In my opinion, the board and administration has done an excellent job of financial management to operate with a balanced budget," she said.
Olsen said serious cuts in the budget will be made if the referendum fails to pass Tuesday. If it doesn't pass, she said, there will be a significant impact on students. The board has already identified five teaching positions and one guidance counselor position that will be cut or eliminated if the referendum doesn't pass.
"This is the right thing to do," she said of the referendum. "I believe it is wrong to say that a 'no' vote is not a vote against the kids, because now it is."
Kloepping, who has served on the board for 16 years, said she is running for another term because "it is a very challenging time with budget conditions."
Her experience is valuable to the problems faced by the district, she said.
"I really care about keeping quality educational programs offered to our students," she said.
Kloepping was able to convince the board last month to keep the ag courses at the high school; however, the ag education position will be reduced to part-time if the referendum fails. She said the school needed the ag program because farming is important to Brodhead.
Kloepping said the board has already decided to eliminate an administrative position at the end of June 2011.
"If the referendum fails, the board will certainly have to look at cutting another one and combining positions," she said.
Write-in candidates Schneider and Donovan oppose the referendum.
"Finance will be an ongoing problem," Schneider said.
Schneider said he was "surprised" by how the board conducts its business. He said the board needs to take a closer look at the district's finances and find ways to save money.
He said he wants to use his years of business experience to help the district operate more effectively. Schneider was a fundraiser and involved with Brodhead Emergency Medical Services for 18 years.
His business experience and training will be valuable to the board, he said.
Donovan also wants to use his experience as a patent attorney to help the district.
He decided to be a candidate after the board announced a second referendum. He said the board failed to listen to the voters.
"The board was unwilling to take into consideration the voice of the community," he said. "I was surprised that in three or four days (after the first referendum failed), the board took extracurricular activities off the table and proposed a second referendum that included saving sports."
Donovan, like Schneider, said money is going to be tight for the next several years.
"We need to rethink expenses and salaries," he said.
He promised to "stand in the way" of any effort to exceed revenue caps.
"I'm never going to support going to a referendum to exceed revenue caps," he said. "I would be willing to say 'no' to increases in salaries, fringes and benefits."
Donovan said he can give people a "different voice" on the board.
"I can give the community a new person who doesn't have the same relationship with the administration," he said.
Two incumbent candidates, board president Peggy Olsen, and Carol Kloepping, are being challenged by two write-in candidates, Allen Schneider and Paul Donovan for two seats on the board.
Schneider and Donovan entered the race after the board decided to hold a second referendum for the April 6 election. The first referendum, which took place Feb. 16, failed by a 55 to 45 percent margin.
As board president, Olsen, who has been a board member since 2001, has taken the lead at community meetings about the referendum.
"In my opinion, the board and administration has done an excellent job of financial management to operate with a balanced budget," she said.
Olsen said serious cuts in the budget will be made if the referendum fails to pass Tuesday. If it doesn't pass, she said, there will be a significant impact on students. The board has already identified five teaching positions and one guidance counselor position that will be cut or eliminated if the referendum doesn't pass.
"This is the right thing to do," she said of the referendum. "I believe it is wrong to say that a 'no' vote is not a vote against the kids, because now it is."
Kloepping, who has served on the board for 16 years, said she is running for another term because "it is a very challenging time with budget conditions."
Her experience is valuable to the problems faced by the district, she said.
"I really care about keeping quality educational programs offered to our students," she said.
Kloepping was able to convince the board last month to keep the ag courses at the high school; however, the ag education position will be reduced to part-time if the referendum fails. She said the school needed the ag program because farming is important to Brodhead.
Kloepping said the board has already decided to eliminate an administrative position at the end of June 2011.
"If the referendum fails, the board will certainly have to look at cutting another one and combining positions," she said.
Write-in candidates Schneider and Donovan oppose the referendum.
"Finance will be an ongoing problem," Schneider said.
Schneider said he was "surprised" by how the board conducts its business. He said the board needs to take a closer look at the district's finances and find ways to save money.
He said he wants to use his years of business experience to help the district operate more effectively. Schneider was a fundraiser and involved with Brodhead Emergency Medical Services for 18 years.
His business experience and training will be valuable to the board, he said.
Donovan also wants to use his experience as a patent attorney to help the district.
He decided to be a candidate after the board announced a second referendum. He said the board failed to listen to the voters.
"The board was unwilling to take into consideration the voice of the community," he said. "I was surprised that in three or four days (after the first referendum failed), the board took extracurricular activities off the table and proposed a second referendum that included saving sports."
Donovan, like Schneider, said money is going to be tight for the next several years.
"We need to rethink expenses and salaries," he said.
He promised to "stand in the way" of any effort to exceed revenue caps.
"I'm never going to support going to a referendum to exceed revenue caps," he said. "I would be willing to say 'no' to increases in salaries, fringes and benefits."
Donovan said he can give people a "different voice" on the board.
"I can give the community a new person who doesn't have the same relationship with the administration," he said.