Many WI school districts ask for help in funding through referenda, Wauwatosa hopes to do things differently

 

WAUWATOSA, Wis. (CBS 58) --A lack of state funding in education across the state of Wisconsin has caused some panic among many school districts, which have turned to referendums in hopes of maintaining the necessary resources to keep the schools going.

"If you close schools, there's, I mean community impact, I mean literal, like, community impact, friendship impacts the ways communities work, there's financial impact," explained Amanda Passmore, a parent who is part of the 'Save Tosa Schools' group.

There are 90 proposed referenda across Wisconsin this spring because state funding has not kept up with inflation.

In February three districts failed to pass their referendum.

Burlington Area School District, which asked for $11 million, Waterford Union School District, which asked for $91 million, and Wilmot Union High School District, which asked for $7.5 million.

Wauwatosa faces a $9.3 million budget shortfall for the upcoming 2024-2025 school year. That is why, on Friday, students and parents gathered at the Wauwatosa Public Library to write postcards to send to local leaders asking for support.

"They love their schools, they love the access to the arts, and to foreign language, and I don't want to see those cuts affect them," added Chasity Brimeyer, a parent of two elementary kids and a volunteer at 'Support our Schools' group.

The 'Save Our Schools' bill introduced by state Rep. Robyn Vining in mid- February is giving some parents hope.

"It will help address that gap without putting burdens on taxpayers," said Brimeyer.

"One of the schools that they are considering closing, and maybe are still considering closing, is our school Washington," added Passmore.

Come Fall however, Wauwatosa might just end up resorting to a referendum as well.

"Community members are going to say 'what's going on at Tosa schools? We're not passing a referendum, we just passed a referendum,' well yeah, you did, because we’re still underfunded from the state," said Passmore.

Officials say that in five years, Wauwatosa's budget deficit will increase to $61 million.