Litigation Taxpayer Advocacy - Long-Term Strategy

Wisconsin's Constitution places primary responsibility for public education on the state, specifically the legislature. Over time, state funding has failed to keep pace with rising costs and expectations on schools, forcing districts to rely heavily on local referenda. This has undermined students' state constitutional rights to sound basic educational opportunities for all children, regardless of where they live. Given our current reality, the Necedah Area School District Board of Education has decided to move towards litigation against the State of Wisconsin. They are tired of relying on local referenda to provide sustained programming and services for students by asking their families, friends and neighbors to vote for an operational referendum. The Board feels there is no choice than to litigate for a funding system that takes deeper consideration of our local taxpayers, and the complex needs of our students. Given the Legislature's persistent failure to adequately fund public school districts, Necedah Area School District is limited in the ability to expand programming to better meet the needs of students who need support the most; including, low socioeconomic students and students with disabilities. Use the following link to find out Why? Necedah Area School District feels forced to litigate towards solutions to the chronic underfunding of public schools. Link

Operational Referendum Championing Children - Short-Term Solution

As we advocate for long-term strategies for better state funding policy, in which we are not forced to ask local taxpayers to approve additional funding, we also need to address short-term deficits. The last operational referendum was $950,000 for four years, which didn't even cover underfunded special education costs, yet alone address annual inflationary increases. We need the state to take action to address the chronic underfunding of our public school, which is the purpose of the lawsuit. In the short-term we need to ask, once more, our local taxpayers to consider another 4-Year operational referendum. The Board created a plan for this referendum by asking for as little as possible to maintain programs and services, while using fund balance to help defray the total authorization by taxpayers. Use the following link to find events and Q&A regarding the operational referendum. Link

Taxpayer Advocacy Team - Next Steps

As we embark on litigation, community engagement is crucial. We need to lock arms and let our legislators know our local frustrations with using operational referenda to fund the needs of our students. The time is NOW to create a deeper purpose for changes at the state level. Legislative leadership needs to know how you feel, and be provided with possible solutions to address the issues we feel are prevalent in the chronic underfunding of mandated services for the children in our Necedah community. We have to stop relying on local taxpayers to be the sole provider for filling funding gaps that are the responsibility of the state.

There are solutions, and we can offer suggestions. We need YOU to help build a coalition of concerned local taxpayers. They need to hear from you! Please RSVP to an upcoming informational meeting to find out how you can be a part of the strategy to change how Wisconsin does business. Our local taxpayers deserve better! We should not have to rely on operational referenda to fund our school district, or any other school district in our state. Consider joining our Taxpayer Advocacy Team by completing the following interest form, or call Tanya Kotlowski (608-565-2256 ext. 120) to be added to the interest roster. The purpose of the first meeting is to find out more, and then you can decide if you want to be on the team. Link to Interest Form

Join Our Local Event - Taxpayers United!

We invite you to attend an upcoming press release regarding important legal action being taken to protect the taxpayers and students of the Necedah Area School District, and the future of public education in Wisconsin.

Our district, alongside partners across the state, has filed a lawsuit against the State of Wisconsin for failing to meet its constitutional and legal responsibility to adequately fund public schools. For years, the state’s funding policies have placed increasing pressure on local taxpayers while failing to account for inflation, student needs, and the realities facing today’s schools.

Specifically:

Public schools have not received annual inflationary increases to keep pace with rising costs.
The state reimburses only $0.38 for every $1.00 spent on mandated, legal special education services.
No new funding has been added to the state aid formula, shifting a greater burden onto already stretched local taxpayers.
Current funding formulas fail to consider student needs or the demographics of individual school communities.

As a result, districts have become increasingly reliant on local referenda simply to maintain existing programs and services. This is not a sustainable, adequate or equitable solution.

The purpose of this lawsuit is to reduce reliance on referenda and urge the state to develop an equitable, stable, predictable and adequate funding system that meets its obligations and supports students in the Necedah School Community, and releases the burden on fix and low income taxpayers in Necedah and in every community across the State of Wisconsin.

We encourage all local taxpayers and community members to attend this press release to learn more about the lawsuit, ask questions, and understand how this effort aims to protect our taxpayers, students and our community’s financial future.

Date: TBD
Time: TBD
Location: TBD

Watch for more details!

Your voice and engagement matter. We hope you will join us.

Tanya Kotlowski, Superintendent

1801 S. Main Street

Necedah, WI 54646

608-565-2256 ext. 120

kotlowski@necedahschools.org

Taking a Stand for Local Taxpayers and Students! Taking a Stand for Local Taxpayers and Students!

Demanding Better: A Two-Pronged Approach Demanding Better: A Two-Pronged Approach

Litigation Taxpayer Advocacy - Long-Term Strategy

Operational Referendum Championing Children - Short-Term Solution

Taxpayer Advocacy Team - Next Steps

Join Our Local Event - Taxpayers United!

Tanya Kotlowski, Superintendent