I hope everyone is having a great summer. It’s very quiet around the school when the students are not here with their laughing spirit and interest in learning. There are many times I get questioned about what do you do during the summer when the students are not around?
When school is out of session there are many things that need to be completed. The fiscal year ends for school districts on June 30. All expenses and revenues must be completed so that the auditors can see how the district did for the entire 2025-2026 school year and report it back to the board and community. I read through news articles asking for public schools to get audited. We do! Every year! This comes at a high cost but is necessary to show the public we are doing what we say we are doing. Owen-Withee School District and the school board are fiscally aware of the funds and expenses we receive. Revenue seems to get cut every year, yet insurances, electricity, fuel, transportation costs, food prices and products purchased have risen. This school year federal funds have been cut from our programs. The district will start with less funds to begin the school year than last year. These are some of the reasons in the news you read about schools going to operational referendums to increase spending needs. The Owen-Withee School District goes to referendum after several years for this purpose also. When I first arrived in 2024-2025, we had to run a 3-year nonrecurring referendum. This amount was to help keep our school district viable and make repairs to the infrastructure of the building. Below are the items that will be changed or have been repaired this summer.
1) Outdated Elementary Boiler System
2) Hallway Lights and Completed Ceiling Tiles
3) Computer Server for the District & Batteries to operate in case of power failure
4) Phone System that is obsolete
5) Asphalt Sealing to protect the newer asphalt from weather damage
6) Windows that were leaking and inefficient
7) Kindergarten flooring that was falling apart and not friendly with this age students
Furthermore, while we are trying to end one school year, the next school year must be dealt with. The school budget for the 2026-2027 school year must be assembled and orders for supplies also need to be looked at and ordered, so that the teachers and staff have the items necessary to teach the students. Teacher and Staff handbooks need to be reviewed to be sure we are up to date with new policies and laws. These are only a few items that happen over the summer. If you have more questions about this, please stop in or send me an email rbergman@owk12.org.
This year will be the last year of the current 3-year $500,000 referendum. The 2027-2028 school year would begin by having $500,000 less than the previous year if the district doesn’t pass a new referendum. If this is the case, there will be many cuts to programs and activities. School funding is an issue and needs to be changed. In the meantime, schools in the state will be coming back to our taxpayers to ask to pass more referendums. Once again in April 2027 the Owen-Withee School District will be asking the taxpayers to support another operational referendum to replace the one we currently have. Throughout the school year I will provide you with information necessary to make an informed decision. You can also talk with me any time about any of your thoughts or concerns. Social media is not the place to air your grievances and make uninformed accusations. As I mentioned, you will see a lot of information from the school district about the kinds of referendums there are and reasons why the Owen-Withee School District needs to have another referendum for the district. The district is hoping to run a referendum for a longer period. A 3-year referendum is just too short a period of time, and they cost money to run too.
Our public schools are important, and our staff provides the students with the best education possible. Working together we can make O-W a great school district. Enjoy your family for a few weeks. Summer School begins August 24 and the 2026-2027 school year begins September 1, 2026.