Muskego school issue is again a "no" go

Muskego - The $29.9 million facilities referendum failed by a 65 to 35 percent margin in the Muskego-Norway School District in special-election balloting Tuesday.

With 3,424 "no" votes against 1,849 "yes" votes, the referendum failed by an even larger margin in this week's special election than the original $34 million referendum that was voted down last November. At that time, only about 54 percent of voters were against the referendum.

Turnout was about 29 percent of registered voters in Muskego and closer to 20 percent in the town of Norway. The total number of people casting ballots this time was less than half of the voter turnout last November. But this was a special election in which only the referendum question was on the ballot.

Respectful, but mystified

Faced with the result's late Tuesday night, school officials acknowledged their own feelings as well as the voters' clear choice.

"We're disappointed, but you have to respect the people," said Muskego-Norway Superintendent Joe Schroeder.

Likewise, School Board President Jim Schaefer said: "We respect the community's vote."

Still, Schaefer acknowledged he was mystified why the vote was more negative this time around. Voters said it was too big, so the School Board pared the plan down from the original $34 million to $29.9 million.

Looking ahead, he said the elementary schools still have needs and the School Board must now decide where to go from here. That discussion will likely start Nov. 21.

Voices of opposition

Just like last November's vote, the town of Norway was more heavily against the referendum. In voting Tuesday, 72.3 percent unofficially cast "no" votes in the town of Norway, compared to 64 percent voting "no" in Muskego.

The actual unofficial vote totals in the town of Norway are 482 "no" and 185 "yes." In Muskego and the few New Berlin residents in the School District who cast their ballots in Muskego for this special election, the unofficial totals are 2,942 "no" to 1,664 "yes."

District resident Tom Bykowski, an outspoken critic of the referendum, said late Tuesday that the results were should send a clear message to district officials.

"Hopefully, the School Board will get the point that we can't afford it at this point in time," Bykowski said.

Though pleased with the outcome, he, too, was amazed at the lopsided vote.

Those who supported the referendum seemed to be far more organized, Bykowski said, noting the signs and literature that used by supporters. Those against had only a few signs, but no literature that he knew of, he added.

"It seems the people who were against it really came out," he said.

Tom Nowicki, another referendum critic, said simply, "It was too high (a price). People can't afford it."

The failed plan

The $29.9 million borrowing would have added an estimated $107.50 per year to the property tax bill of the owner of a $250,000 home, officials estimate.

Some of the proposed spending is indeed justified, Nowicki said, and maybe those improvements could be made after Lake Denoon Middle School is paid off in five years. Perhaps taxes wouldn't have to be raised, he added.

The $29.9 million referendum would have supported an elementary school consolidation and update. The two oldest schools, Muskego and Tess Corners would have closed because the heating and ventilation systems are at the end of their useful lives, they are not handicapped accessible, they severely lack storage space and Muskego Elementary is on a busy street and needs better traffic circulation.

To take absorb those students, the plan called for a new elementary school to be built and Mill Valley Elementary School to be expanded.

Also under the plan, Lakeview Elementary in the town of Norway would have received a new heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system, a new gym and a more secure entrance, and in general would have become made handicapped accessible.

Country Meadows Elementary and Bay Lane Middle School, which share a school building, would have also each got secure entrances.

Which of those elements, if any, will proceed in the face of the referendum's failure has yet to be determined.