De Soto area school district voters reject $4.8M referendum

STODDARD, Wis. (WKBT) -- Voters in Vernon and Crawford Counties struck down a 4.8-million-dollar referendum to maintain staff and programs for the De Soto Area School District.

The referendum if passed would've seen a $225 yearly increase for every $100,000 of property value.

De Soto School Referendum

The district also had three seats open for its board. Two of them only had one name officially on the ballot, though the race for school board member from Ferryville saw a write-in candidate beat out an incumbent board member.

De Soto School Board

De Soto School Board - Ferryville

The De Soto referendum came during a difficult year for the district, not only financially, but also internally.

The vote Tuesday was on the heels of the school board voting not to renew Stoddard Elementary Principal Derek Fuglsang's contract.

Voters including Frank Vogel had mixed reactions about both the referendum and the personnel issues within the district.

"We need to revamp the whole thing because there was some shady and I don't trust the way things were handled with the school board," Fogel told News 8 Now.

According to superintendent Linzi Gronning, because the referendum failed, the district will have to decide what programs to cut and whether to replace staff or not.

"On behalf of the De Soto Area School District I wish to extend sincere appreciation to the community for their consideration of the operational referendum that would have provided additional financial support for the District. Due to the failed referendum the School Board will undertake a budget development process aligned to the state-imposed revenue limits, and one that is within the financial resources available to the District while addressing a $1,200,000 budget deficit. Community feedback will be considered as the Board prioritizes reductions in district-wide operations, staffing alignments, and educational programs expenses.

Appreciation is extended to outgoing Board members Rick Pedretti, Board President, with over two decades of experience on the Board and related committees, as well as to Ryan Venner, whose professional expertise contributed greatly in his work on committees and through his service to the Board. As the District moves forward, with the addition of new Board members, it is hoped the shared vision and mission will maintain the focus on advancing quality educational programs, facilities and services for De Soto Area School District students.

Linzi Gronning, Principal/Superintendent"

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