Letter to the editor, community:
On behalf of the School District of Fort Atkinson Board of Education, we would like to thank our residents for their consideration of the solutions presented to voters November 8.
While we are pleased the board found one solution that meets the needs of the district, we also understand that voters felt that one option we presented was not the best available. We will utilize the next few months to continue to engage in open dialogue with community members about the opportunities and challenges we face together.
In the spirit of openness and honesty, this must continue. As a board, we will continue fostering conversations with community members about the future of our local schools.
After the results were announced, several residents asked: “Now what?” The simple answer is that the needs of our schools will not go away. Therefore, we must return to the drawing board and develop a new solution that meets the needs of our students and our communities. Because of the urgency of the situation, this work will begin immediately and we will be looking at coming back in April with a solution on the ballot.
For now, we thank you again for participating in this process and for your consideration of our proposed solutions.
Kory Knickrehm,
President of the Board of Education for the School District of Fort Atkinson
Additionally, Knickrehm annouced:
Voters in the Fort Atkinson School District approved a $22 million capital referendum and rejected an operational referendum with a $3 million recurring component and a $4 million non-recurring for 2023-24 and 2024-25, and $5 million non-recurring in 2025-26 component.
The capital referendum funds will be used to build secure entries at all six schools, address urgent maintenance needs at all six schools such as roofing, plumbing, and electrical, as well as address traffic flow at the high school. The operational referendum funds would have been used to maintain current programs and services in order to cultivate an inclusive high-performing culture of growth and community.
As a result of the election with the passing of the capital referendum question, the school tax rate will be $10.95 per $1,000 of equalized property value. Had both the capital and the operational referendum questions passed, the school tax rate would have also been $10.95 per $1,000 of equalized property value.
For the capital referendum, the “unofficial” results are 4,154 votes in favor, 3,696 votes against.
For the operational referendum, the “unofficial” results are 3,644 votes in favor, 4,162 votes against.
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