School referendum passes
Posted by brvanlanen on August 20, 2008
On it’s third attempt the Wausaukee School District was successful in passing a referendum.
Wausaukee School District taxpayers Tuesday overwhelmingly voted to support the district to exceed the state revenue limits by $675,000 for a period of 10 years.
A large turnout at polling places throughout the district could have been the reason why, with a total of 1,908 votes cast at six voting polls located throughout the district.
Unofficial results obtained from the school district Tuesday night, showed a total of 1,234 people voting “yes”, while 674 voted “no.”
Here’s the vote breakdown -
Voting breakdown YES NOTown of Amberg 196 109 Town of Athelstane 101 155
Town of Silver Cliff 92 113
Town of Wagner 197 100
Town of Wausaukee 442 165
Village of Wausaukee 206 32
Totals 1,234 674
Whether it was enough to save the district remains to be seen.
With district taxpayers finally approving a referendum on the third try, it will now be up to the School Boundary Appeal Board to affirm or deny dissolution of the school district.
State School Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster of the Department of Public Instruction recently appointed the members of the School Boundary Appeal Board to hear Dissolution Order No. 2009-02 regarding the dissolution of the Wausaukee School District.
The first scheduled date for the dissolution public hearings will be held at the school auditorium on Tuesday. There will one session from 1 to 4 p.m. followed by a second hearing from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
District Superintendent Jan Dooley said last week that the final vote in Tuesday’s referendum election would make a difference.
“We are extremely grateful to the voters of the Wausaukee School District for their resounding support of our school district today,” Dooley said.
During the hearing on Tuesday, the public will have an opportunity to provide testimony during either of the two hearings.
Dissolution hearings have also been scheduled for Sept. 30 or Oct. 1 and Nov. 11 or 12. If needed, hearings will also be scheduled for December and January.
A decision by the School Boundary Appeal Board must come by no later than Jan. 15.
