RHINELANDER - The School District of Rhinelander's Board of Education met Monday night.

The B.O.E discussed and voted on two big issues.

The first being the decision to go to referendum again this year and what will be cut from the district's budget if the referendum doesn't pass.

The board voted in front of an audience of less than twenty community members to bring the district to referendum again.

The B.O.E. decided to ask the community to vote for two separate referendum questions: the first asking for an additional 13.7 million dollars in the sale of bonds for building renovations that the B.O.E. says will eventually save money, and the second asking to exceed the tax levy by an additional 1.5 million dollars a year over the next three years to prevent budget cuts.

"This district is moving forward with so many exciting educational programs, that we need to be able to continue to provide the high quality of education that we're currently providing," says Board President, Debra Durchslag.

The B.O.E. also had the task of voting on a package of cuts they will have to make to the district's budget over the next three years, if the referenda are not approved by the public.

These more than 20 cuts will make up for 4.5 million dollars over three years and include reducing extra-curricular activities, as well as cutting teachers and other staff.

The district's charter schools would also be closed by the end of the next three years, if the referend a are not passed.

Board President Debra Durchslag says it's difficult to have to make these kinds of decisions.

She says she hopes community members educate themselves about the referendum questions and about those 4.5 million dollars in cuts if both referenda are not passed.

The public vote on the referenda will be on February 16th 2010.

For more information about the specifics of the referendum questions and a list of the possible cuts, click the link to the school district's website listed below.

Related Weblinks: School District Website