The Waterloo School Board voted for an Operating Expense Referendum Question on the April 4 2023 election
ballot. Voters will be asked:
Shall the Waterloo School District, Jefferson, Dodge and Dane Counties, Wisconsin be authorized to exceed the
revenue limit specified in Section 121.91, Wisconsin Statutes, by $590,000 per year for the 2023-2024 school
year through the 2025-2026 school year, for non-recurring purposes consisting of sustaining educational
programming and operating expenses?
Why a School Referendum?
Why does the Waterloo School District Need an Operational Referendum?
The District has a long history of local officials being frugal, fiscally responsible, valuing a low mill rate, and
always maintaining a healthy fund balance. The issue we currently face is not one that stems from a local decision,
but one that largely centers around variable out of our local control. Those factors we cannot control include the
state revenue limit formula and inflation. The District is seeing year-after-year rising operational costs that are
impacting all aspects of district operations. This factor, coupled with decreasing revenue, has led to the Waterloo
School District's current financial situation.
Increasing Expenses
(2019 to Present)
Price of Electricity |
Up 54% |
Price of Natural Gas |
Up 174% |
Price of Water & Sewer |
Up 94% |
Retaining Staff = Quality Education for Our Students
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Jennifer Porter, Waterloo Elementary 2nd Grade Teacher
As a 26-year veteran teacher in Waterloo, I have learned that resources matter. When teachers and
classrooms have the resources they need, there is a greater ability to provide higher-quality
educational opportunities. Thus allowing teachers to better meet the needs of their diverse groups
of learners.
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Krista Sale, Waterloo Intermediate School 5th Grade Teacher
Resources for instruction, intervention, and enrichment are already at lower levels compared to
neighboring districts that have passed operating referendums to maintain staffing and programs. The
likelihood that significant cuts will need to be made to reduce expenditures will only contribute to
the shortages already existing.
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Keith Setz, Waterloo Middle/High School Teacher
I have taught in big and small schools. In a small district with fewer resources, teachers fill
multiple roles. Larger schools have more money so staff can specialize in individual areas. In a
small school, I am often the sole person responsible for special ed., language support, behavior
support, interventions, etc. If we need to reduce staff to reduce expenditures, even more will be
added to the plates of already busy staff.
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Shelly Scharenbrock, Waterloo High School Math Teacher
In my 33 years working for the District, I have seen student needs increase and the resources to
address those needs decrease. Our district faces enormous challenges related to workforce shortages
and rising inflation in staff compensation, utilities, transportation, insurance, and a host of
other operational areas. Waterloo has the opportunity this spring to use the referendum to address
these funding shortages.
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Challenges the Waterloo School District Faces:
- Decreasing or inadequate state funding
- Rising inflation impacting all district operations
- Low population growth rate
- Fewer young families entering the district
- Impact of the pandemic (ie: teacher/staffing shortages)
What Will the Referendum Funds Do:
- Provide ongoing educational and extracurricular programming
- Address competitive compensation to attract and retain highly qualified staff
- Address operational needs across all departments
- Help keep class sizes smaller
- Offset negative ramifications of state public education funding budget
- Maintain current level of services
Your Tax Impact:
Your Tax Impact* |
ANNUAL |
MONTHLY |
WEEKLY |
DAILY |
$100K of property value |
$69.00 |
$5.75 |
$1.33 |
$0.19 |
$200K of property value |
$138.00 |
$11.50 |
$2.65 |
$0.38 |
$300K of property value |
$207.00 |
$17.25 |
$3.98 |
$0.57 |
*Estimates only. State and local factors affect calculations.
WSD Implemented Cost Saving Measures to Help Avoid Going to Referendum:
- Health Insurance: Implemented HDHP, HSA & Employee Wellness
- Transportation/Busing: Negotiated 5 years of no new increases
- Dental Insurance: Switched to a self funded dental plan
- Applied for and awarded more than $200K in grants: Fast Forward, DOJ Threat Assessment, School Based Mental
Health Services, Immigrant Children & Youth, Bilingual/Bicultural
WSD Recent Successes:
District
- 98.5% graduation rate
- Over $1M in scholarships awarded in '21-'22
- Average student-to-teacher ratio of 17:1
- 18 bilingual staff
- 1:1 computers District wide
- US News National Top High School ('20-'22)
- 100% highly qualified teachers
- WHS/WMS 'Exceeds Expectations' on DPI District Report Card
- GOOD - McKinstry Facility assessment rating
Waterloo is ranked 395 out of 450 across all school districts in the state of Wisconsin for average teacher
salary.
Despite offering the least-competitive average teacher salary among comparable nearby districts, Waterloo has
the
highest overall score on the DPI School Report Card for its high school among those same districts.
Sources:
DPI
Public Teacher Salary Report
DPI School & District Report Cards
Academics
- 8 Advanced Placement class offerings
- National AP District Honor Roll ('18/'19)
- Dual credit course offerings at Madison College
- Youth Apprenticeship Program
- CNC Milling Training Program
- Start College Now Program
- Southern Lakes Advanced Learners Network
- 59 students with an ACT category score of 25 or greater ('21,'22)
- 29 students with an ACT composite score of 25 or greater ('19-'22)
Co-Curriculars / Fine Arts
- Forensics (Local, Regional, State Qualifiers)
- FBLA (Local, Regional, State, National Qualifiers)
- Visual Arts Classic (Local, Regional, State, National Qualifiers)
- WSMA Solo & Ensemble (Local, Regional, State Qualifiers)
- FFA (Local, Regional, State Qualifiers)
- FFA Trap Team (WI Clay Target League State Tournament (Local, Regional, State Qualifier)
- Nat'l Yearbook Program of Excellence Award
- WI School Music Assoc. State Honors Project Qualifier
Athletics
- Volleyball
- Conference Champions ('18, '19, '21, '22)
- State Appearance ('19, '20)
- Football (Level 1 Playoffs, '21, '22)
- Wrestling
- Conference Champions ('19, '21, '22)
- Individual State Qualifiers ('19-'22)
- Girls Basketball (Regional Champions, '21)
- Softball (Conference Champions, '22)
- Track & Field (Indiv. State Qualifiers '19, '21)
Pool and Fitness Center
The Pool and Fitness Center are primarily operated through a separate fund of money known as Fund 80, which
serves
as a Community Service Fund. This money is separate from the main operational funds of the school district and
is
not part of this operational funding referendum.
Pool and Fitness Center Director
The Pool and Fitness Center Director is a highly-qualified position with a year-round 261-day contract, as
opposed
to the typical 190-day contract for teachers.
Historical Director Wages
Fiscal Year |
Director |
Gross |
Benefits |
Subtotal |
2014-15 |
Patricia Schellin |
$38,050.30 |
$24,328.77 |
$62,379.07 |
2015-16 |
Patricia Schellin |
$39,592.74 |
$25,568.38 |
$65,161.12 |
2016-17 |
Patricia Schellin |
$39,453.92 |
$22,388.88 |
$61,842.80 |
|
|
|
|
|
2017-18 |
Aaron Erickson |
$70,380.50 |
$29,060.22 |
$99,440.72 |
2018-19 |
Aaron Erickson |
$69,480.98 |
$33,202.66 |
$102,683.64 |
|
|
|
|
|
2019-20 |
Janessa Henning |
$44,000.00 |
$10,120.75 |
$54,120.75 |
2020-21 |
Janessa Henning |
$48,864.00 |
$11,266.79 |
$60,130.79 |
2021-22 |
Janessa Henning |
$50,064.00 |
$11,403.01 |
$61,467.01 |
How contract days affect the daily salary rate:
261 Contract Days Salary $55,000 = $210.73 per day
190 Contract Days Salary $55,000 = $289.47 per day
Director Position Requirements
The position has the following requirements:
- Supervision of 25 employees
- Wide hours of availability
- 5:30 AM to 7:00 PM, Monday through Friday
- Other hours Saturday and Sunday
- State-certified pool operator
- American Red Cross First Aid and CPR instructor
- American Red Cross lifeguard
- American Red Cross lifeguard instructor
- Water safety/swim instructor
Revenue over Time
*Revenue affected by COVID
New Programs and Classes
Over the last four years, the Pool and Fitness Center has offered nine new programs and classes to members and
the
community. It has also offered eighteen new wellness opportunities and challenges to District staff. Promoting
staff
wellness helps the District keep health insurance costs down.
Recent Communications:
Referendum Postcard 4 for Website - English
Referendum Postcard 4 for Website - Español
Referendum Postcard 5 for Website - English
Referendum Postcard 5 for Website - Español
Referendum Postcard 6 for Website - English
Referendum Postcard 6 for Website - Español
Helpful Links:
Poll Information:
For comprehensive election
information, voter registration, and obtaining
absentee ballots, visit myvote.wi.gov.
Town
of Milford
Location
of
Polls - Milford Town Hall - W6335 CTH A & Q, Johnson Creek, WI.
Hours of operation - 7:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
City of Waterloo
Location of Polls - Waterloo Municipal Building - 136 N Monroe St, Waterloo, WI
Hours of
operation - 7:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Town of Waterloo
Location
of
Polls - N8193 State Rd 89, Waterloo, WI
Hours of
operation - 7:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Town of Portland
Location of Polls - Portland Town Hall -
W
11720 Taylor St, Waterloo, WI
Hours of operation - 7:00 a.m. - 8:00
p.m.
Town of Shields
Location of Polls - Emmet Town Hall -
W6777
Second Street Rd, Watertown, WI
Town of Elba
Location of Polls - Town Hall - N3799
County
Rd T, Columbus, WI
Hours of operation - 7:00 a.m. - 8:00
p.m.
Town of York
Location of Polls - York Town Hall
-
796 York Center Rd, Marshall, WI
Hours of operation - 7:00 a.m. - 8:00
p.m.
Town of Lowell
Location of Polls - Lowell Town Hall -
Old
16 Rd, Reeseville, WI
Hours of operation - 7:00 a.m. - 8:00
p.m.
More Information:
If you have further questions, please connect with the Waterloo School District Office at (920) 478-3633, ext.
4501