Dr. Rick Spicuzza

I write this letter with hope and a sense of urgency. The last three years have required an incredible investment of time and financial dollars into our students, district, and community. Unfortunately, representatives in Madison have not demonstrated that shared urgency regarding funding public education. Before the last legislative budget cycle, representatives approved per-pupil increases in only two of the previous eight years. However, the expenses to operate an organization consisting of 256 employees and 1,300 students, while providing extended opportunities to families and the community have continued to increase during multiple years of flat funding from Madison.

By now, you know that the Prescott School District is at a financial crossroads that will determine whether we sustain excellence and can continue providing vibrant educational opportunities for all students. If drastic steps are not taken, Prescott School District will be out of funds to retain the programs, staff, and outcomes we have come to expect by the 2027-28 school year.

What you should know

By April 2, 2024, over 85% of all Wisconsin school districts will have asked their local communities to invest tax dollars into their home district. Public school districts have had to become more reliant on their local communities due to an outdated educational formula devised in 1993 that has not been favorable to supporting public education.

In addition to the operating cap and unequal funding limits across 421 public schools in 1993, the legislature removed inflation increases to the per-pupil funding in 2009. The Prescott School Board has continued to inform our community about this crisis and invited external advisors to examine the impact on our district over the last decade. If you have not seen the Baird Financial presentation, visit our website (www.prescott.k12.wi.us/referendum).

Did you know? Due to the financial crisis, the Prescott School Board is proposing a two-tiered response to sustain our excellence:

• Since the fall, administration, supervisors, department heads, and staff have done the internal work to identify $650,000 of budget cuts that will be implemented by fall 2024. These reductions are not easy, but they are a good-faith effort to reduce district expenses and avoid a budgetary whiplash effect.
• In January, PSD’s School Board passed a motion to seek a recurring operational referendum for $1.2 million to sustain the vast options we currently provide for our students, staff, and community. If the operational referendum is not voter-approved on April 2, 2024, immediate and active steps will be required to eliminate an additional $1.2 million from the fall 2024 school year budget.

The School Board has made financially responsible decisions to minimize tax impact locally. Two examples include prepaying previous voter-approved bonds, saving taxpayers $1.5 million in levy costs, and by upgrading mechanical systems across our three older schools to become more energy efficient and reducing annual repair costs.

On April 2, 2024, your vote is your voice. We ask that you make an informed decision on what is at stake. As a school district, we are at a crossroads; the decision now rests with our voting community. Please take a few minutes to scan and view our “Student Voices” video to hear students share what being a Prescott Cardinal means to them.