LETTER: Referendum meets needs with least taxpayer burden

To Ozaukee Press:

I have heard and read a lot of criticisms of the Port Washington-Saukville School District referendum that are really unfounded. A letter to the editor in last week’s Ozaukee Press called this an “impulse purchase” and advised that we all ask for more information.

This is anything but an impulse decision. As the district has informed us all, the planning has been going on for over two years. As a member of the community who was invited to participate on the planning committee, I have been able to see all of our district facilities, hear from staff in the schools, and be involved in the recommendations being made.

The committee and experts have asked a lot of questions and looked into several options. The district also surveyed the public to get a read on the community at large, and have tailored their current proposal accordingly.

This proposal will not meet all the needs of the district forever. But in the current situation, where the state government has bound districts to severely limited funding with a model pegged to 2010 costs, and a community facing additional tax levies from other sources, the district has worked hard to meet the most immediate needs with this referendum so that we can balance our students’ needs with the least burden on the taxpayers.

Another criticism I have heard is that the district has neglected maintenance, and that we should not reward neglect by passing this referendum. That is absurd. Whatever past administrations have done, that is the past. The current superintendent and current administrators are a new team who have looked at forming strategic plans so that we don’t fail to keep up with our facility needs.

It would be foolish to punish our kids for problems of aged facilities and mistakes that past administrators may have made. Passing this referendum does not reward anyone—it will build a school and fix facilities.

Voters can get answers to their questions by reviewing the district’s website at www.pwssd.org/referendum/ or by attending an information session. The district will hold a total of six public meetings, with the last two taking place on March 12 at TJMS and March 18 at Saukville Elementary School.

Also, our new superintendent, Michael McMahon, has been making rounds to community organizations and will be making himself available for chats over coffee with members of the public.

This is a great community with great schools, but we can be better. We need to make this investment so that the next generation has the best foundation we can provide. Please vote yes on the PWSSD referendum on April 3.

Barry Mitchell

Saukville