From Maxwell Brooks

Monroe

To the Editor:

On April 7, Monroe voters will decide whether to support our public schools through an operating referendum.

It isn’t a position that our community should be in, but it is the unfortunate reality across Wisconsin.

More than 70 school districts are facing a referendum this year, not because of local mismanagement, but because of how the state funds education. Since the 1990s, strict revenue limits have capped how much districts can raise, while costs have continued to rise. Since the 2000s when that revenue was capped to no longer rise with inflation, that gap has grown. Now, referendums are the only way many districts (especially rural/smaller districts) can maintain basic operations.

That includes Monroe.

Our district has already reduced staff in recent years. If this referendum fails, additional, drastic cuts would follow. That would mean larger class sizes, fewer educators, and reduced opportunities for students. This community takes great pride in its high-quality education, and for good reason. We cannot allow a state-level failure to threaten that.

This is not a long-term solution, and it should never be seen as such. Wisconsin needs to fix its school funding system so communities aren’t forced to return to the ballot again and again just to maintain what they already have.

But that larger debate doesn’t change what’s in front of us today.

This vote is about the immediate future of our schools. It’s about supporting education and the future of our next generation above all.

A “yes” vote means stability, which we are in great need of in these times. A “yes” vote means keeping class sizes manageable, retaining staff, and preserving programs that support students. It means supporting our incredible community. A “no” vote means deeper cuts and fewer opportunities for kids in our community. A “no” vote creates long-term issues when facing a problem that should only be short-term.

We can continue pushing for long-term change at the state level. We should. But in the short term, it’s up to us to support our schools and the families that rely on them,

On April 7, I urge you to vote yes. Vote yes for Monroe’s students, teachers, and future. Then, let’s work to make real progress in this state to reduce our reliance on operating referenda.