The Press

Main Menu

  • News
    • Allouez
    • Ashwaubenon
    • Bellevue
    • Brown County
    • De Pere
    • Green Bay
    • Howard
    • Hobart
    • Suamico
    • Seymour
  • NEW News Lab
  • Sports
    • Ashwaubenon
    • Bay Port
    • De Pere
    • Green Bay East
    • Green Bay Notre Dame
    • Green Bay Preble
    • Green Bay Southwest
    • Green Bay West
    • St. Norbert College
    • West De Pere
    • Seymour
    • High School Sports Scores
  • Obituaries
  • Subscribe
  • Contact Us
  • Classifieds
    • Place Ad
    • View Ads
  • Legal Ads
    • Our Legals
    • Statewide
  • E-Editions
  • Sweepstakes

logo

The Press

  • News
    • Allouez
    • Ashwaubenon
    • Bellevue
    • Brown County
    • De Pere
    • Green Bay
    • Howard
    • Hobart
    • Suamico
    • Seymour
  • NEW News Lab
  • Sports
    • Ashwaubenon
    • Bay Port
    • De Pere
    • Green Bay East
    • Green Bay Notre Dame
    • Green Bay Preble
    • Green Bay Southwest
    • Green Bay West
    • St. Norbert College
    • West De Pere
    • Seymour
    • High School Sports Scores
  • Obituaries
  • Subscribe
  • Contact Us
  • Classifieds
    • Place Ad
    • View Ads
  • Legal Ads
    • Our Legals
    • Statewide
  • E-Editions
  • Sweepstakes
CommentaryEditorial Opinion
Home›Commentary›Hats off to Ashwaubenon voters, school leaders

Hats off to Ashwaubenon voters, school leaders

By The Press
April 24, 2020
1610
0
Share:
Legislator

By Ben Rodgers
Editor


It’s happy days for the Ashwaubenon School District, all things considered.

When classrooms are finally full again, thanks to a majority of Ashwaubenon voters, students will see some changes thanks to two “yes” votes on referendum questions asked April 7.

Specifically, voters approved an operational referendum question to exceed the state-imposed revenue cap by $730,000 a year for five years, and a capital referendum for $10.05 million in general obligation bonds for a facility-wide improvement program.

The two votes mean homeowners in Ashwaubenon will pay an extra 65 cents per $1,000 of home value for the near future.

Both passed with more than 60 percent of the vote. That shows voters in Ashwaubenon care about local students.

What is really interesting about those questions is what the operational referendum will accomplish in regards to mental health support.

The district’s plans presented at public forums leading up to the spring election called for hiring:

• Three school counselors.

• Two social workers.

• Two social emotional learning coaches.

• Two graduation coaches – partnering with the Boys & Girls Club.

• Adding a .33 full-time equivalent for a full-time at-risk position at the high school.

Those plans also include adding social emotional learning materials and training.

In this new education reality where money from the state is often thrown at problems to increase security regarding student safety, the Ashwaubenon School District is looking to stop those problems before they escalate to nightmarish scenarios.

District leaders and voters recognized fundamental additions to student mental health support provide as much long-term defense as bullet-proof windows or security cameras.

The fact is more mental health supports mean more students get access to the resources they need to properly cope with and handle situations that may arise.

Ashwaubenon is focusing on staffing these positions at the early grades so problems are nipped in the bud early before they can escalate.

With a school funding formula as complex as Wisconsin’s, district leaders saw the only way to add these positions was to go to referendum, which voters approved.

Congratulations are due for district administration, the school board and voters for taking a proactive step toward increasing student safety at the root of the problem.

With the other question, $3.9 million of the $10.05 million will improve physical security at two elementary schools.

Voters also approved adding air conditioning at three schools, the cost to run it, repairing to the high school track and other things.

No two school districts are the same, and all have problems they could remedy, but district leaders across the state need to take note of this approach for adding mental health services.

Congratulations again Ashwaubenon. You have much to be proud for.

Facebook Comments
TagsAshwaubenon School DistrictBen RodgerselectionFrom the Editorvoters
Previous Article

Bids approved for Suamico Fire Station No. ...

Next Article

Staff members placed on furlough at UW-Green ...

0
Shares
  • 0
  • +
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

Find us on Facebook

  • News

  • Sports

  • Divorce

    Local start-up aids the recently single

    By Josh Staloch
    May 16, 2022
  • School

    This year’s school district vacancies similar to years past

    By Josh Staloch
    May 16, 2022
  • Burger Fest

    News Briefs

    By Josh Staloch
    May 15, 2022
  • Cellcom

    Cellcom Green Bay Marathon held in cooler conditions

    By Rich Palzewic
    May 16, 2022
  • Bay Port

    Bay Port track and field teams sweep FRCC meet

    By Rich Palzewic
    May 16, 2022
  • Peterson

    Nicolet National Bank Senior Spotlight: Lilah Peterson – West De Pere track and field

    By Rich Palzewic
    May 16, 2022

About Us


The Press Times is published every Friday by Multi Media Channels, and is Green Bay's number one newspaper covering local news and local sports. The paper is locally owned and operated and written. Subscriptions are $49.00 annually. Delivered via US Postal Service. To subscribe go to https://www.shopmmclocal.com/product/the-press-newspaper/ or call 715–2 58–4360

Timeline

  • May 16, 2022

    Cellcom Green Bay Marathon held in cooler conditions

  • May 16, 2022

    Bay Port track and field teams sweep FRCC meet

  • May 16, 2022

    Local start-up aids the recently single

  • May 16, 2022

    This year’s school district vacancies similar to years past

  • May 16, 2022

    Nicolet National Bank Senior Spotlight: Lilah Peterson – West De Pere track and field

Find us on Facebook

Copyright © 2019 Multi Media Channels LLC.
All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied, modified or adapted without the prior written consent of Multi Media Channels LLC.
×