To the Editor:

Another school year is almost here, and while a lot of things are staying the same, as always, there will be some changes. One of these changes is the Kids’ Club. You might be wondering “What is Kids’ Club?” Kids’ Club is a free program at the school on Tuesdays and Thursdays until 5:00 p.m. where students get recess, a snack, and help from a teacher with their homework. This is not only helpful for the students, but also the parents who work later or who would like their children to have some extra help with homework. This has been a popular program in our community. Unfortunately, funding is an issue this year. If you follow the local news, you know that the Owen-Withee operational referendum did not pass in the spring. Operational referendums are referendums that bridge the gap between a school’s budget to operate and the amount of money the district receives from the state. We are not the only district that is seeking this sort of referendum. Sixty-two districts in Wisconsin had operational referendums on the April 2024 ballot (pbs.org) due to the growing divide between what the state provides and what schools need.  This sort of referendum is not for big projects or special circumstances, but to keep the schools “in operation,” for example: programs, staff, building maintenance, extra-curricular activities (including sports), technology updates, and more. There will be cuts in our district this year, and one of those cuts is our beloved Kids’ Club which costs the district $9,000 a year. Even if you do not have children in the district, I urge you to speak to the other members of the community about how the changes at the school will affect them. Our hope is that in November, the operational referendum will pass, and we can bring Kids’ Club back for the second half of the year to benefit the children in our community. 

Lisa Westaby,

Owen, WI