Why a School Referendum?

Madison Values Education

• Good schools are essential to a strong community.
• Our schools are our future.
• Quality education attracts business and homebuyers.

School Funding is Broken

• Mandates, needs and costs continue to grow faster than allowed revenues.
• Annual service and program cuts of 1-2% over the last 14 years.
• Over 100 districts in Wisconsin have held referenda in the last year.
• After 14 years of cutting, essential services are in danger.

We Can't Afford to Cut More

• Over 600 staff positions have been lost since 1993.
• Over $52 Million in cuts have been enacted since then.
• The district has continually worked to become more efficient, eliminating or combining many administrative positions.
• Coming years will require further cuts in class size, arts, music, electives, nurses, counselors, athletics, teaching materials, facilities, staff development, maintenance, transportation and more.

How a Referendum Will Help

• A referendum allows the community to fund our schools adequately.
• A referendum will provide relief while awaiting State school finance reform - at least two years away.
• After years of trying to do more with less, we must improve and expand the good our schools do.