HOWARD, WI (WTAQ) – A local school district has a better idea of why a spring referendum didn’t succeed and where to go from here.
On Tuesday, leaders with the Howard-Suamico School District released the results of an online survey that was given to the community to better understand why an April referendum failed to move forward.
District Board of Education President Mark Ashley says there were two main reasons it wasn’t approved.
“Those respondents clearly told us that first and foremost, that a lack of a limit to the recurring portion of the referendum was the primary driver for the no response to it,” said Ashley.
The survey also shows there is a need for additional clarity in district and public education financing.
In April, the district’s referendum question asked voters to allow it to exceed the state revenue limit by $4,000,000 in 2017-18 and for an indefinite amount of years.
Ashley says moving forward, they will be forming a special committee.
“In an essence a liaison, so we can have an ear of the community and they can have ours and we can work as close as possible to formulate some solutions for how to address the financing gap.”
Over 1,400 people responded to the survey, which Ashley says is the biggest response the district has ever seen with any survey.
The next possible referendum would be April of 2018.
