It’s all up to the voters to decide the future of Cadott

It’s been a highly debated topic in the Cadott community, as to whether a $24.5 million referendum should be passed for the school district, toward capital improvements. Finally, after months of rumors, misinformation and a lot of confusion bounced around, an informational session was held March 4, to show what the referendum involves. Photo by Ginna Young

By Ginna Young

It’s been a highly debated topic in the Cadott community, as to whether a $24.5 million referendum should be passed for the school district, toward capital improvements. Finally, after months of rumors, misinformation and a lot of confusion bounced around, an informational session was held March 4, to show what the referendum involves.

Last spring, the Cadott voters approved a $9.9 million referendum, to update the tech ed center. It originally started out as a $14.1 million referendum, for the tech ed center expenditures, as well as a secure entrance to the high school, but when community survey results came back, the language changed, because not everyone on the school board wanted to spend that much of the taxpayers’ money.

With a split vote, they decided to go with the cheaper option of $9.9 million, which did not include the secure entrance, only updates to the tech ed center.

“That shouldn’t have happened,” said school board president Cory LaNou.

After the retirement of the former district administrator, when transitioning into his new role, Josh Spaeth discovered that the 2023 referendum was not favorable for the community.

Tech ed expansion would be 3,000 square feet, costing about $4 million, while one could be constructed at 14,000 square feet, for the same cost.

“We couldn’t address a lot of other needs,” said Spaeth. Therefore, it was decided to go back to the drawing board and ask the community to support a new referendum. If passed, the district can then install a secure entrance area; a bigger gymnasium and fitness center; a new technical education center; an early childhood learning center; construction of and/or improvements to athletic fields; and playground updates at the elementary school.

“We have a lack of housing, I see a lack of business and it’s showing in our enrollment,” said Spaeth.

When parents choose where to live, they most likely move to places with excellent schooling. That’s what Cadott needs to offer, to compete with larger towns or those with more opportunities.

“This is not just a Cadott thing, this is happening across the state,” said Spaeth.

The district formed a Facility Advisory Committee, that didn’t turn anyone away, but looked at what is needed. Then, based on the results of a community survey that went out recently, the referendum question was set, asking for the $24.5 million.

For Cadott, the district loses about $1.7 million, annually, to students open enrolling out to other districts, private voucher schools or homeschooling. Revenue caps have been locked into place since the early 1990s, meaning aid is not there to maintain buildings on the district’s own.

In order to make the high school as secure as possible, improvements and renovations are needed. Right now, out of the three separate entrances, two require that guests be buzzed in, while the other is locked during the day, after students arrive on the buses. With the renovations, the entrance would then see guests funneled through a “safe trap,” before they are allowed access to other parts of the school.

The 2023 referendum language does not allow for any changes to the high school structure, other than the tech ed center, so security would still be an issue. The tech ed space is currently small and outdated, with hopes to add 3D printer fabrications, an automotive program, additional youth apprenticeships and college certification opportunities, through the new referendum.

By doing so, it will get the kids career ready and knowing how to do business, along with product coming out as part of a tech ed business.

Both gyms at the high school would remain in place and would just see an expansion, while a community center could host larger events, with a walking track on the upper level, as well as a fitness center.

“Just more space for the community, which is lacking in the area,” said Luke Schultz, CESA associate director.

The gyms are heavily used and when practices run late, youth have to practice in the classrooms and hallways. Perhaps the biggest draw for families, is an early learning center within the school, which is usually the staff’s biggest concern, leading to them going with another district.

“We’re hoping to be able to recruit and retain staff,” said Schultz.

Cadott can also set up curriculum for high school students to work in the early learning center, if they desire to go into the field. By having programs for early learning center development, the students can get certifications at the high school level and enter the workforce right out of graduation.

Community member Ben Folczyk questioned why the taxpayers should bear the burden for a daycare center, while community member Vern Weeks asked why there’s only one daycare provider in Cadott, at this time.

“The biggest revenue you can have, is kids choosing to come here,” said Spaeth.

LaNou answered the one question – one that he asked himself – that there aren’t enough people going into that field, but by going through the school, with the accreditations, staff shouldn’t be a problem. Staff would be hired through the district, which will be a Phase 2 project, as Spaeth wants to make sure they do it right.

Judging by the results, school board member Andrea Wahl feels the community has spoken on what they want.

“We need more,” she said. “In order to grow, we need more.”

One community member pointed out that inflation is making everything go up and many people in Cadott are on a fixed income.

“You’re asking a lot of them,” he said. If the 2024 referendum is approved, the 20-year municipal bond will mean that for every $100,000 of equalized property value, the monthly impact would be $13.75/ month, or $165, per year, for each property owner.

Without the passage of the $24.5 million referendum, Spaeth feels families will continue to leave for more opportunities elsewhere, which means revenue goes down, requiring the district to go to referendum just to operate.

“The taxes are going to have to go up, just to keep the doors open,” said Spaeth. “We can’t continue to go the way we’re going.”

The elementary school is completely remodeled, the high school is structurally sound and the high school is even adding air conditioning, so Spaeth says they shouldn’t have to ask the community for more funding for a long time. However, he did admit Cadott is still paying off the referendum bond from 2012, on schedule, but that the interest is lower on that, so the new referendum would be the primary payback concern.

“That’s another reason I think it’s so important, is to start thinking about revenue generation, so we can pay off this debt faster,” said Spaeth. “I am going to keep pushing, so that we start growing.”

Based on a question from a community member, Spaeth said he doesn’t see any school districts in the area merging, unless the state steps in and takes that choice away.

“People don’t want to see their school close,” said Spaeth “Why? Because the school is the face of the community. We have a great district and we want to continue to be great.”

Vernon Haas, community member, questioned why students are leaving the district, which Spaeth said is something they’re working on figuring out, including making sure education is the most important aspect of the school, with individual learning plans for every student. In addition, every teacher knows where every students sits with reading and math.

“That’s never happened before,” said Spaeth. If the new referendum fails, Cadott will still do what they can with the tech ed center, allowing for future expansion. For specs on the projection and to contact Spaeth, community members can visit cadott.k12.wi.us.

Ultimately, it’s up to the voters, for what they want to see happen.

Community member Jon Bowe knows the rise in taxes is a bitter pill to swallow, but feels a bigger commons area is needed and an updated tech ed center, which teaches students life skills.

“If we don’t invest in our youth, we don’t have anything,” he said.