Oconto Falls School Board to consider school referendum

The Oconto Falls School Board expects to finalize plans for an April referendum when it meets Jan. 18.

The board will likely consider a $3.3 million recurring referendum that extends the 2016 measure authorizing the school district to exceed state-imposed revenue limits through the 2021-22 school year. The new question would ask voters to increase that amount by $275,000 annually.

A survey of school district residents in November found tentative support for an increase as high as $300,000.

Bill Foster, of consulting firm School Perceptions, gave the board a report about the survey during its Dec. 14 meeting. He said the poll garnered 1,300 responses as opposed to 895 for a similar survey four years ago.

The 24% return rate allows for a statistical margin of error of a relatively low 2.7%, Foster said.

After providing some background material, the survey asked respondents whether they were mostly likely to support one of four options.

The first three options were for $3.3 million recurring referendums that would allow the school district to increase revenues by an additional $200,000, $250,000 or $300,000; the fourth option was no further referendum.

The $300,000 option was supported by 53% of all district residents, 83% of staff, 60% of parents and 42% of the largest group — taxpayers who are neither parents of current students nor staff members.

The survey showed another referendum is opposed by 20% of all respondents, 2% of staff, 15% of parents and 27% of the non-parent, non-staff group.

“Staff represent less than 1% of your community, so they literally don’t get many votes,” Foster said, adding that about one in four school district residents currently have children in school.

The consulting firm recommends that the district pursue the $275,000 alternative, which Foster said would result in a tax mill rate reduction for each of the next four years and still provide funding for ongoing building maintenance, staff compensation competitive with neighboring districts, expanded course offerings and additional security improvements at each building.

Although the survey showed support for up to $300,000, Foster said asking for a lower figure would signal to taxpayers that the board is serious about lowering the mill rate for the next few years.

“Now, you might have to sharpen your pencils to do that a bit, but it strikes me that that’s what we learned from this survey, that that’s what folks would like you to do,” he said.

The survey also asked residents if they supported studying the potential for another referendum in April 2022 focused on school district buildings, especially the aging Washington Middle School structure.

Foster said the consensus of respondents was: “Go ahead and explore. I’m not necessarily saying yes I’m going to support it, but I think there probably is a need there and you should probably put together a plan.”

Continued review of district buildings was supported by 82% of staff, 68% of parents and 49% of the non-parent, non-staff group, he said.

Superintendent Dean Hess said the Dec. 14 presentation was for informational purposes, not immediate action.

“The intent is to give you a chance to think about this, let it percolate a bit and bring it back to you for the January board meeting,” Hess told the board. “It gives us a chance as a district to do that double, triple check, all the numbers, the legal counsel, to ensure that all the language is absolutely correct.”