From Larry Koschkee

Monroe

To the Editor:

Proponents say it is an investment. Let us look at the return on a past investment of building expansion of the High School in 2000. Water infiltration and drainage issues led to structural degradation, the worst at the science wing which is separating from the foundation and the rest of the building. The question is: who knew what and when?

Many times the community has stepped up and invested in schools. 1959 new High School, 1968 Northside School, 1977 Abe 1986, 1986 Parkside. I can recall a referendum was passed in the late 1990s. A referendum was passed in 2019 and another in 2021. We are on the eve of another referendum being passed. Never mind the staggering inflation and inevitable recession, high gasoline and natural gas prices, food prices, housing costs, interest rates, etc.

Another aspect of a return on investment is go on the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction website and look at test results in English, Reading, Science and Math for Monroe over a period of five years. I would say the numbers are not a good return on the community investment.

If you have followed the referendum information released by the school administration you noticed the impact of the referendum mill rate started at $1.99 per $1000 of Fair Market Property Value then $2.06, then $2.37. The administration gave some soft examples of yearly tax increase for $100,000-$300,000, but no examples of businesses with high property assessments. The mill rate is a moving target at this time and nowhere to go but up.

After the High School is demolished and site restored at a cost of $2.5 million what are the School Board and Administration going to do with the property? They already said possibly convert to a green space. Consider this: The site is 26 acres, deed a portion to the Behring Senior Center. They are itching to build a new center for an estimated cost of $18 to $20 million. If they receive that land we will not see more land taken off the tax rolls.

Plan B give the balance of the 26 acres to the city for housing development which could add to the tax base and offer much needed housing opportunities.

Let’s vote and pass this all-time record Monroe schools referendum so the community does not have to address the issue again, but show up at the Monroe School Board meetings and discuss academic accountability.