March 6, 2025
Parkview Blog – Operational Referendum First Public Letter
On April 1. 2025, the Parkview School District will be asking the public to support a two-year, non-recurring operational referendum. In order to keep the public updated, the District will send out several informational letters and postcards about the operational referendum. The following is the first letter that will be sent out to the public this week:
Dear Residents of the Parkview School District,
On Tuesday, April 1, 2025, the Parkview Board of Education will have an operational referendum question on the ballot. Prior to the election date, I wanted to write you a short letter explaining the details about the referendum.
What is the Question?
The question on the ballot will read as follows:
“Shall the Parkview School District, Rock County, Wisconsin be authorized to exceed the revenue limit specified in Section 121.91, Wisconsin Statutes, by $750,000 per year for the 2025-2026 school year and the 2026-2027 school year, for non-recurring purposes consisting of operational expenses, including staff compensation and educational programming?”
In Plain English, What Does This Mean?
The District is asking you to allow us to increase our revenue limit by $750,000 for each of the next two years, the upcoming 2025-2026 school year and the 2026-2027 school year. After the two years, the ability to increase our revenue cap by $750,000 will go away and if the District still needs the money it will have to come back to the public and ask for your permission again through another operational referendum.
The Board of Education decided to go for a two-year, non-recurring referendum for $750,000 each year, so that we could demonstrate to the community that we used the money in exactly the way that we said we would and that the District was getting a good return on its investment.
Why are We Coming Back?
The District has failed in its last three operational referendum questions, the last question being asked in April 2024. These operational referendum failures resulted in the following cuts:
- Eliminated the Elementary School Counselor
- Eliminated One Elementary Classroom Teacher
- Eliminated a Junior/Senior High School Math Teacher
- Eliminated an Elementary School Math Interventionist
- Eliminated a Junior/Senior High School Math Coach
- Eliminated the District’s Communications Director
- Eliminated Four (4) Technology Integrators
- Eliminated Two Building Substitute Teachers
- Eliminated Two Buildings & Grounds Staff Members
- Eliminated One Reading Support Teacher from CESA 2
- Eliminated Six (6) Coaching Positions
- Eliminated Three (3) Co-Curricular Advisors, including the Pizazz Program
- Eliminated the Music Program’s Piano Accompanist
- Eliminated Two Bus Routes and Summer School Transportation
- Eliminated Board Member Salaries
- Reduced Budgets in the areas of Curriculum, Technology, Professional Development, Athletics and Co-Curriculars
- Reduced Stipends for Coaching and Co-Curriculars
If the Referendum Passes, How will the Money Be Used?
If the referendum passes on April 1, the Board of Education will use the $750,000 per year to restore the following cuts:
- Restore the Elementary School Counselor
- Restore a Reading Interventionist at the Elementary School
- Restore a Junior/Senior High School Math Teacher
- Restore a Junior/Senior High School Interventionist
- Increase Four (4) Paraprofessionals to Full Time with Benefit
- Increase the District Office Secretary to Full Time
- Increase Staff Wages
How Much Will The Referendum Impact My Property Taxes?
If the referendum passes, the tax impact would be as follows:
- A property valued at $100,000 would have school property taxes increase by $90 the first year and $72 the second year;
- A property valued at $200,000 would have school property taxes increase by $180 the first year and $144 the second year;
- A property valued at $300,000 would have school property taxes increase by $270 the first year and $216 the second year.
If I Have Additional Questions on the Operational Referendum Where Can I Go to Get Answers?
If you have any additional questions about the referendum, please visit our website at parkview.referendumfacts.org or contact Dr. Wayne Anderson at (608) 879-2956 or wanderson@email.parkview.k12.wi.us.
I appreciate the time that you have taken to read this letter and hope that you will reach out to me with any additional questions that you might have regarding either the operational referendum or any school related questions.
Sincerely,
Dr. Wayne R. Anderson
Superintendent
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