Waseca School District Reacts To Failed Referendum
Published Date: 11-04-2009 06:47 PM CT
Voters in Waseca turned out last night to vote on a school district referendum that would increase taxes starting next year.The referendum failed which means district officials have to make big cuts, right away.News 12's Nathan Harrington has reaction from Waseca.Supt. John Rokke says, "We felt a lot of support but the price was just too steep."The tally was close...54% No to 46% Yes.Voters rejected a six-year referendum that would have increased operating revenue in the Waseca School District.The result left superintendent John Rokke disappointed.Supt. John Rokke says, "Kids will lose opportunities and if kids, if our young kids don't have the interventions they need to help them learn or read and write and do math, that can set them back for a lot of years."The referendum would have increased the per pupil revenue of 600 dollars to 1300 dollars starting next year.Grace Galvin voted yes last night, but can understand why others voted no.Grace Galvin says, "I don't like to see my taxes go up and they would have gone up quite a bit and I know a lot of my friends are on fixed incomes were very concerned about that."A no vote for the referendum means some tough times ahead. The Waseca School District will have to decide what stays and what goes when they slash 2 million dollars from the budget next year.John Rokke says, "Well, the board will look at everything because they have to. They will be very diligent in there, and it will be as public as it possibly can be, just like it has been."Cuts the school board has already looked at include closing school buildings, transportation changes, reduction in college classes, and teacher cuts.And along with scratching school activities, no one thinks any of these are fair to students.Grace Galvin says, "There were going to be a lot of programs that were cut, and especially being interested in art and music, I really hate to see anything like that cut from our program."The school board will begin to discuss cuts immediately, at their next meeting in two weeks.And they hope the community will continue to support them, and help make the decisions.In Waseca, Nathan Harrington, News 12.
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