Community meetings set for referendum discussion

By Steve Van Kooten

The community has multiple opportunities to learn more about Wauzeka-Steuben’s spring referendum before the April election.

At the school board's Feb. 16 meeting, the district announced plans to hold three information sessions and attend various town and village board meetings.

The first of these events took place on Feb. 25 at the gas station. District Administrator Dr. Dan Olson attended a Coffee and Questions discussion.

There will also be two evening information sessions held at the Wauzeka-Steuben Library. The first takes place on Wednesday, March 4, at 6:30 p.m., and the second will take place on Monday, March 9, at 6:30 p.m.

District administration and board members aim to attend board meetings in the communities they serve. 

"If you remember the last referendum, Gary [Albrecht] attended the two village meetings — Wauzeka and Steuben — but none of the towns," said Olson. "And we thought, based on the voters in the towns, we really shouldn't exclude them."

Wauzeka-Steuben has voters in Wauzeka, Steuben, Eastman and Marietta, as well as a few in the Bridgeport and Prairie du Chien area, according to Olson.

"The idea is we're not going to give a big presentation; we'll have our fact sheets and a one-page sheet, and we'll basically answer their questions," he said.

The school district is requesting a two-year, non-recurring operational referendum. If it passes in April, the district will receive $1,150,000 for the 2026-27 school year and $1.2 million for 2027-28.

The proposed referendum question is "Be it resolved by the School Board of the School District of Wauzeka-Steuben, Crawford County, Wisconsin, that, for the purpose of paying the costs of operation, educational programs and maintenance of the School District, the School District be authorized to exceed the revenue limit specified in Section 121.91(2m), Wisconsin Statutes, by $1,150,000 for the 2026-2027 school year on a non-recurring basis and by $1,200,000 for the 2027–2028 school year on a non-recurring basis.”

According to the district's website, the board chose a two-year referendum "to see what happens with state aid after the election of a new governor and a new state budget that will be crafted for 2028–30."

Wauzeka-Steuben's previous four-year referendum expires in June. An operational referendum differs from a capital or building referendum in that the money is needed to maintain the school's regular operating costs, such as salaries, benefits, transportation and curriculum.

The school cites declining enrollment as a primary reason for renewing the referendum, with an estimated decline from 215 to 194 students by the 2030–31 school year.

Spring elections will be held on April 7.

For more on the referendum and where board members and administration will be speaking in March, visit https://www.wauzeka.k12.wi

In attendance were board members Nikki Aslseon, Jessica Bird, Thomas Martin, Ken Buck and Brandon Millin. Also present were Olson, Principal Tiffany Dums, Business Official Jeff Mara and Kevin Kilburg.

The next meeting is scheduled for March 16.

Other business

• approved an overnight trip for the WIAA State Wrestling Tournament on Feb. 26-27.

• approved the 2026–27 district calendar. The first day of school will be Sept. 1, according to the board.