Published: April 3, 2014 (A1)
Rubicon could ask for recount
By NICHOLAS DETTMANN
Daily News
A recount will likely be requested for the Rubicon Joint 6
School and Saylesville School referendum, which was voted down by voters in
Dodge and Washington counties Tuesday by two votes.
School Board President Matt Thompson said Wednesday he
doesn’t believe the votes were tallied incorrectly but, in a situation like
this one, it doesn’t hurt to make sure.
The voters were 222-220 against a referendum to increase the
revenue limit by $450,000. It is the fourth time a referendum has been voted on
and each time it has failed. According to Thompson, with the exception of the
first attempt, each vote was close. In December, the referendum failed by just
six votes.
“The next steps will be (for the board) to get together and
figure out what to do,” Thompson said. “A lot of it will depend on our enrollment
for next year.”
Another advisory vote that was Tuesday asked voters if they
were for or against dissolving the district.
The voters were 258-160 (62 percent) against dissolving the
district.
Saylesville School has struggled with finances brought on by
a low levy limit imposed by the state and caps on how much the district can
raise the levy each year.
The school has been pulling money from reserves. District
Superintendent Dan Hanrahan said in December there won’t be enough money left
after this school year. To stay open, the school would have to cut programs
like music, art and physical education, along with five teachers, leaving the
school with four teachers for about 140 students.
Hanrahan couldn’t be reached for comment Wednesday.
Thompson said every effort will be made to keep the school
open.
“There is an outside chance it could work,” he said.
“The results are the results,” Thompson added about the
results of Tuesday’s vote. “I think there’s a pretty even divide in the
district; a lot of support and a lot of people oppose.”
The next couple of weeks and months will likely tell the
future of the school district.
“I think there’s an uneasy feeling,” Thompson said. “...
It’s a tough one. How do you support keeping a district open while not support
funding for it?
“There’s going to be a lot of discussion.”
Thompson said the hope is to survey the district’s residents
and find out their education plans as a last-ditch effort to save the district.
If that’s unsuccessful, Thompson said the district will likely dissolve within
two years.
“Dissolution is the last resort,” he said. “It’s not one you
can take back.”
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