Lake Holcombe School Board - It boils down to if you want a school or not

Lake Holcombe School District administrator Kurt Lindau shared what he has in mind, Feb. 17, when holding public informational meetings about the upcoming operational referendum on the spring election ballot. If taxpayers approve the referendum, the school can remain open and will continue to offer diverse, quality programming to its students. Photo by Joy Dain

By Ginna Young

As the spring elections draw closer, there will be one very important item on the ballot for Holcombe residents – whether or not to approve an operational referendum to keep the doors of Lake Holcombe School open.

“If your enrollment is declining, you can’t raise as much revenue…which leads to a budget deficit,” said district administrator Kurt Lindau, Feb. 17. Lake Holcombe isn’t alone in declining enrollment or needing to pass a referendum to stay open – there are 62 referendums set to take place during this spring election. Without community support and voters’ approval to pass the $900,000, per year, three-year recurring referendum, above the levy limit, the district would dissolve.

Dissolution is a process not controlled by the electors of the Lake Holcombe School District, nor its administration; instead, that process is controlled by the School District Boundary Appeals Board. If that happens, residents of the district will stay pay school taxes, no matter where students are reassigned to and in most cases, those taxes could be higher than they are currently.

It might seem like a large amount to approve, but in reality, taxes are expected to decrease, even with the passage of the referendum to exceed revenue limits. Funding formulas are not where they should be from the state, so districts have to look elsewhere, hence, an operational referendum.

“It’s about keeping the programs and offerings in place you currently have, and it’s about taking care of the building and grounds,” said Lindau.

Lindau believes that Lake Holcombe offers a lot of diverse opportunities for the families who attend there and is the hub of the community. It’s important to retain quality staff, whose first priority is the welfare and education of the students.

In addition, quality programming, unique experiences and hands-on learning is a must for the students, in order to prepare them to live productive lives once they graduate.

But, the district can’t do it alone and is asking the public to show their support April 1, by voting yes, to support the referendum. To learn more, visit lakeholcombe.k12.wi.us or contact Lindau.

“This community is stronger with a strong school,” said Lindau.