With the second referendum failing, the Berlin school board has been forced to make cuts everywhere in the district, but the next cut coming might be headed for the school board itself. Superintendent Dr. Emmett Durtschi has proposed a petition to decrease the number of school board members from nine to the Wisconsin average of seven.
“The current number of board members is nine. The average number on other school boards in Wisconsin is either five or seven. I am interested in helping facilitate the process to reduce the number from nine to seven,” Durtschi said. “I have shared this with the BASD school board and am working to take the next steps.”
Durtschi’s reasoning behind the reduction is straightforward; the district is reducing in size, so the school board should as well. A claim that many community members and teachers share.
“Because the school is reducing as a whole, it’s logical that the board should reduce as well,” English teacher Dr. Angela Femali said.
Durtschi’s other rationale for reduction is financial; board members not only get a base compensation, but can also incur excess costs in doing things such as traveling to conferences. Reducing the number of people on the board would subsequently lower these costs.
“School board members receive annual compensation to serve on the board. Currently, each school board member is entitled to $3,600 annually, with the President and Vice-President receiving $4,200 annually,” Durtschi said.
As for how he is going to reduce the board’s size, Durtschi made it very clear that the change is going to be a gradual one. Only when current board members choose to step down will the board reduce in size.
“Whoever runs (incumbent or new candidates) is on the ballot, and the voters are to select up to three candidates. If all three incumbents choose to run again in the spring, no change will happen this April. The ballot will still ask voters to select three,” Durtschi said. “If at least one current school board member lets the district know they are not running again, the voters will be asked to pick two candidates this spring. The same process will happen each spring until we have seven board members.”
In terms of the school board’s inner workings, they currently have three committees: Policy and Instruction, Finance and Infrastructure, and Personnel and Public Relations. Each committee has three members, but this will be shaken up if the board is reduced.
“Currently, we have a board with a lot of expertise and experience in different areas. We have different backgrounds and perspectives, which makes for good discussion on decisions before they are made. With two fewer members, you may lose some of those perspectives and expertise,” Board Member Angie Meyer said.
However, Durtschi says that the reduction will bring the board closer together and make the members more efficient.
“Other benefits come with a smaller board, such as school board cohesion and engagement, which I believe will also improve outcomes for our district and community,” Durtschi said.
Throughout this process, both Durtschi and the school board have been working diligently to determine the best possible outcome for the school, and it’s clear that the school district and the community are at the forefront of every decision made.
“We were all disappointed to see the referendum had not passed for a second time and were faced with some hard decisions, but the students and staff have been everyone’s priority throughout the process,” Meyer said.
The period for signing the petition has ended but any student, staff, or community member who is at least 18 years old and lives within the BASD boundaries is still able to attend the annual meeting in October to vote on the resolution.
