WASHINGTON ISLAND, WI, January 7, 2010 – As stated in the last issue of the Observer, this column will be devoted to information regarding the Washington Island School District Referendum. Committee Members this year are Susan Chastan, Lisa Munao, Amy Jorgenson, Barb O’Connell, Maggie Swanson, Marcia Carr, Joel Gunnlaugsson, and Ken Kosinksi. It is the job of the committee to convey the information to the community, not to encourage you to vote one way or the other. If you have information you would like to share or questions you would like answered, please contact a committee member.

We decided to approach the referendum issue from a different perspective this year and held a public meeting on December 2nd at the Washington Island School. This meeting was to give the community the opportunity to share thoughts and ideas regarding the referendum and the type of school they would be willing to support. There was a lot of good discussion. (Joan Kuhn published the minutes in the last issue of the Observer.) From this meeting, it was decided that a Referendum Questionnaire be mailed out for community input. This was to be mailed out when school resumed from Christmas break on January 4th. The questionnaire contains four possible referendum options, and they are:

OPTION 1: A base of $292,700 will maintain our budget as it is currently.* Tax increase of $9.54 per $100,000 with no boxes checked. Please check each box you would like to add to the $292,700 to improve Washington Island School District. Example: $292,700 plus the Business/Computer Teacher = $357,700.

• $65,000 (approx) Business/ Computer Teacher – This position was eliminated 2 years ago. Tax increase of $16.46 per $100,000.
• $27,000 (approx) High School Teacher from part-time to full-time to offer additional class options. Tax increase of $6.84 per $100,000.
• $10,000 (approx) Computer/ Technology – Improve our computer lab & equipment. Tax increase of $2.53 per $100,000.
• $1,000 (approx) Custodial Aid – Since we eliminated this position a year ago, we are relying on volunteers/community service. Tax increase of $.25 per $100,000.
• $10,000 (approx) Professional Development – Help the teachers be educated in new technology. Tax increase of $1.27 per $100,000.
• $5,000 Major Building Maintenance – Money to be put in Fund 41 only for building maintenance. Tax increase of $1.27 per $100,000.

OPTION 2: $292,700 = To maintain the school close to the same way we have it today. This is $255,000 from referendum last year, plus the $37,700 (the amount of Stimulus money we received last year but will not receive this year.)* Tax increase of $9.54 per $100,000.

OPTION 3:  $255,000 = Same amount as the referendum last year. For the school to proceed at this amount, we would need to cut $37,700 from the budget.* No increase in taxes. Examples of reductions include, but are not limited to:

• Cut one teacher or
• Reduce 3 full-time teachers to part-time

OPTION 4:  No Referendum = The school would have to cut $292,700 from the budget.* Tax decrease of $74.10 per $100,000.  Examples of reductions include, but are not limited to:

• Eliminate 3 full-time teachers, reduction in support staff, reduction to elimination of extra curricular activities and elective courses.

*  All of these options are based on normal operating costs. These amounts do not include increases that may occur for operational or other services.

Questionnaires must be put in the provided drop boxes located at Baylake Bank, Washington Island Ferry Line and Mann’s Store by January 11th. They will be collected on January 12th and then tabulated and discussed at a Referendum Committee Meeting on January 13th.

On January 14th there is a Special School Board Meeting scheduled at 7:00 pm in the School Commons where the committee will present the results of the questionnaire to the Board. The Board will use these results to aid them in their decision of the referendum dollar amount to request on the voters’ ballot in April.

If you are a voting resident who is away from the Island for the winter and you would like your voice heard, please contact a committee member who can confidentially record your option choice.

from the Referendum Committee

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