From Diana Vance

Monroe

To the Editor:

Voters passed 241 referenda in 2024 all across Wisconsin. Those districts will receive $6 billion which local educators needed for spending priorities.

We are seeing that it is becoming consistent that the number of districts going to referenda has increased and there is no sign of the trend slowing down. The need for more funds may be partially due to the inflation school districts had faced in the past few years.

Holding referenda is evidence the school board wants people to participate in democracy by letting the people decide. School boards now have evidence that voting does a body good and it does really increase overall public contentment. 

One complaint about referenda which is decided by the public in a democratic election is that the public too often fails to understand the matter at hand. If that is you, just pick up the telephone and ask for the superintendent and he will be able to explain.

Also there seems to be some negative voters who believe the school board has not been totally honest with them. Our school board is made up of citizens from the city of Monroe, people we all know or can be seen twice a month at the regular school board meetings and it is ridiculous to believe they would not be honest.  What may have happened was the issue in the past was not properly understood and perhaps could have been explained better.

Come to a school board meeting and see what these people deal with. Often they must study something new. But to carry on and refusing to vote for needed funds for your children demonstrates how democracy can be used poorly. Let us all be adults and put bad feelings in the past and deal with the needs of your schools remembering this is about the education of our children. I believe our school board is made up of honest and dedicated people who do the job without pay because they really care about making good decisions for your children. I believe you do too.  So let’s get on with the business at hand and let the school board know you want to see that referendum again and you wish to participate in the democratic process and vote for our kids. You will be determining in part on how they will succeed in the future. That is a big responsibility.