Brodhead Schools Facing Cuts After Another Referendum Fails

April 8, 2010

The Brodhead School District took its second shot at a referendum, but it came up short on Tuesday, which means the district will have to make budget cuts.

After a referendum failed in February, the district cut back the amount it was asking for and tried again, but voters still rejected it.

The school district superintendent said it’s too soon to rule out another referendum, but the no-vote means cuts are certainly coming.

Voter turnout on Tuesday was higher than at the Feb. 16 vote, but the margin between the yes and no votes stayed the same, WISC-TV reported.

The district said that means it’s facing cutting six teachers, a school bus route and, in the years to follow, administrative positions.

Joanne Coplien, whose grandchildren attend Brodhead schools, said she was very surprised and disappointed by the outcome of the failed referendum.

"It’s going to be hard for our kids to understand why, but I think a lot of people are out of work and just couldn’t hack it," said Coplien.

For others, like Allen Schneider, who won a spot on Brodhead’s School Board as a w rite-in candidate in Tuesday’s election, the vote against the referendum shows residents are looking for a different kind of solution.

"I totally believe that there are areas that can be cut," said Schneider. "I think we have to be looking at our core values and what our mission is and that is to educate students. Now, anything that contributes to that should not be cut but everything else is on the table."

Schneider said the fact that he and one other write-in candidate were elected over two incumbents, including the school board president, is a message that people want change.

After the referendum failed in February, 146 students signed up for open enrollment. Parents have until June to make a final decision.

Officials said they hope the move was simply a precautionary one, since the district would lose almost $7,000 with each student choosing to leave.