GBAPS superintendent reacts to approved $158M referendum

“So it’s continuing the programming that we currently have in place. That could range from co-curriculars or extracurriculars that could go through for our AVID or fine arts, but it is really to support our staff,” GBAPS Superintendent Mike Hernandez said.

Hernandez said a majority of funding goes towards personnel.

He said this will help prevent staff cuts which ultimately leads to lower class sizes and more focus on students.

Over the past several years, the district has had to reduce staff and close six buildings.

“This is extremely important to the city within this because of the way that the financing is for all public schools. It is a struggle when the funding doesn’t keep up with the inflation,” Hernandez said.

Along with inflation, a gap in state funding and declining enrollment were the other main factors in going to referendum.

It’s not just Green Bay Area Public Schools benefiting from the mid-term election. Statewide, more than half of the school referendums on the ballot passed.

“We’re always optimistic at those that passed, but we really need a funding formula in the state of Wisconsin that doesn’t require us to rely on these endless referenda,” Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC) President Peggy Wirtz-Olsen said.

Wirtz-Olsen said consistently going to referendum creates a challenge for schools and taxpayers.

She hopes the democratic-led state legislature will reduce the state funding gap for schools.

“The next state budget has to make public education a priority, not an afterthought and we know that these leaders intend to do that,” Wirtz-Olsen said.

As for Green Bay’s successful referendum, it will have no new tax impact on taxpayers.

However, homeowners could still see changes in their property tax bills because of factors like rising property values.