PdC school district will try for referendum in spring
(Left to right) Noah White, Lacie Anthony, Nick Gilberts, District Administrator Andy Banasik, Board President Michael Higgins, Jr., Dustin Brewer and Lonnie Achenbach listened to community concerns during the Jan. 13 school board meeting. (Steve Van Kooten/Courier Press)
Board tables moving grades 6-8 to high school
By Steve Van Kooten
The Prairie du Chien Board of Education had two polarizing issues to deal with during their Jan. 13 meeting: the operating referendum and the proposed relocation of grades 6-8 from Bluff View Intermediate School to the high school.
The school district proposed a four-year, $10 million operating referendum during the fall election that failed to pass by approximately 500 votes (12 percent). Without a referendum, the school’s fund balance is projected to have a $11.7 million deficit by the 2029-30 school year.
During the meeting, the district presented three hypothetical scenarios, which showed the school’s financial status with either no referendum, a four-year $6 million ($1.5 million per year) referendum or a four-year $7 million ($1.75 million) referendum.
The $6 million referendum decreased the school’s estimated deficit to $5.79 million by 2029-30, and the $7 million reduced it another $1 million ($4.79 million) over the same timeframe.
The $7 million option would “spike” the district’s mill rate to 7.22 per $1,000 of taxable property during the 2025-26 school year, but the rate would then gradually decrease, and all three options had a 4.21 mill rate by 2029-30 based on information provided by the school district.
The $6 million option would still increase the mill rate to 6.94 in 2025-26 before decreasing over the same timeframe.
Each scenario presumed the district would not make any budget cuts and provide a three-percent salary increase for staff.
“We’re not saying we’re going to give a three-percent salary increase,” Banasik said. “We’re saying it’s a guide we’re going off of.”
Both operating referendum options were “flat” rather than the “step-up” option presented to the public in the fall. A flat referendum would draw the same amount of money each year for four years, while the step-up option increased the amount drawn from the taxpayers each year. The final amount after the four-year timeframe would be the same.
“I think it gives you a little more flexibility as we look at those reductions. We know they’re going to happen,” Banasik said. “Second thing is health insurance. We don’t know where it’s at.”
The school district has one year remaining on its contract for health insurance. The maximum increase is 9.25 percent. If the district went with the step-up referendum and the district had to deal with a steep increase in health insurance costs, it could put the district in a difficult financial position, according to Banasik.
“At least we know the maximum that it is. After that, we don’t have a contract,” he said.
Without a contract with an insurance provider set for the future costs could rise higher over the next few years. Some districts are seeing more than 50 percent increases, according to Banasik.
“We know that’s a variable number and that it’s going to fluctuate. We have no control over that number, but at least we put in a number to base that budget,” he said.
The board unanimously adopted two resolutions: one to authorize the school district to exceed its revenue budget by $1.75 million each year for four years and another to go to the spring election with the four-year $7 million referendum.
In attendance were Lacie Anthony, Michael Higgins, Jr., Nick Gilberts, Noah White, Dustin Brewer and Lonnie Achenbach. District Administrator Andy Banasik, Doug Morris, Tomi Gebhard and Vicki Waller were also present. Jim Hackett was absent.
The board’s next working session is scheduled for Jan. 27 at 5:30 p.m. at the high school, and the next regular board meeting is scheduled for Feb. 10 at 5:30 p.m.
Moving students
The board tabled the proposal to move grades 6-8 from Bluff View to the high school.
Higgins, Jr. said, “We’re actually tabling that based on all of the discussions and all the recommendations that are coming in, trying to get all that information answered.”
The proposition has garnered community pushback over the past month. At the Jan. 13 meeting, two community members spoke to the board, urging them to reject the proposal and questioning the financial benefit of relocating the students.
According to Banasik, the move will help accommodate the Career and Technical Education Center in Bluff View with the least amount of renovation expenses. Alternate plans, including moving BA Kennedy students to Bluff View or installing the CTE in the high school, would require renovations to either Bluff View or the high school, respectively.
The board will revisit the proposal at their Feb. 10 meeting.
