District Administrator's Corner

by Loren Glasbrenner,  River Valley School District Administrator  The River Valley School District will have an operational referendum on the ballot during the spring election, on Tuesday, April 5.  This referendum will allow the River Valley School District to exceed the revenue limit to maintain the current courses, programs, and services we provide to our students.  Why do we need an operational referendum? The school funding formula, which has been set up by the state and unchanged since 1993, has provided little to no increase in funding the district revenue limit over the last decade.  A school district’s revenue limit is the maximum amount of revenue that may be raised through the combination of state general aid and local property taxes.  The table below shows the approved increase (or decrease) that we are provided through the biennial state budget compared to River Valley’s increase (or decrease) in expenditures.  The district has worked hard to be fiscally responsible, but we are not immune to inflationary increases in the prices of goods or services.  On an annual basis, we prioritize our students’ needs with guidance from our strategic plan.   Please know that we are not alone by asking to exceed the revenue limit through an operational referendum.  Over the last 25 years, 81 percent of school districts in the state have had operational referendums.   It should be made clear that this referendum is not for new or updated buildings/facilities, or new staffing positions or programs.  This referendum will allow River Valley to keep what we currently have in place to educate and support our students. Please contact me, Loren Glasbrenner, (lglasbrenner@rvschools.org) or Brian Krey (bkrey@rvschools.org) at the River Valley District Office (608-588-2551) with any questions.