A united Lake Station School Board voted Wednesday to place a $1.3 million property tax referendum on the Nov. 5 general election ballot.
The move comes as students prepare to begin the coming year on Aug. 14 with only three days of in-person school because there’s not enough money in the transportation fund for five days of busing. Students will receive e-learning on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Since the district lost last year’s referendum by 14 votes, it’s been forced to shed personnel including four teachers and all 19 paraprofessionals, who assist teachers in the classroom. Because of the uncertainty, 10 teachers have resigned.
One of the teachers, whose resignation was accepted by the board Wednesday, made it clear he left because of the failed referendum.
Third-year science teacher and track coach Daniel Welch’s voice broke as he spoke to the board.
“This is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done in my life,” said Welch, a fishing lover who said he’s taken kids on about 50 fishing trips and oversaw 10 field trips. He also ran shoe drives, collecting more than 300 pairs of shoes for needy kids.
Welch has accepted a teaching job at Kahler Middle School in the Lake Central school district.
“I’m leaving for one simple reason — the referendum was not passed. This is what happens…. we lose teachers like me.
“You’re not sticking it to some higher power, you’re just handicapping teachers like me,” he said of referendum opposition.
The board expressed gratitude and regret to Welch.
“It’s really sad to lose good teachers like yourself,” said board president Greg Tenorio. “This referendum has just been devastating to us since we lost.”
Board members said they plan to counter “misinformation” with a vigorous campaign and public forums to inform voters about how the referendum will impact them.
“Your taxes won’t go up,” Tenorio said.
In 2017, voters approved a $1.3 million property tax referendum and last year, the district asked voters to renew it, not increase it.
Tenorio blamed, in part, the wording of the question on the ballot. “It’s very poorly written and the state mandates we put that on there,” he said.
This time, the board hopes to rally the community behind it.
“We need to work together and drive this home until November so we can get this passed,” said board member Kevin Music.
“We’re going to work very hard to explain the complexity of what all this means,” said Assistant Superintendent Christine Pepa.
Meanwhile, the board accepted a one-time $50,000 donation from the city’s redevelopment commission that will enable it to restore many of the cutbacks it made to extracurricular clubs and activities, including the publication of the school’s yearbook and elementary student council and spell bowl.
Mayor Bill Carroll, who supported the referendum last year, once again is backing it.
The board received $1,050 in donations to cover fees so Edison Student Council members could attend a summer leadership conference. Local businesses also donated $325 for the yearbook.
Cripliver said the Lake Station Boys & Girls Club, 2460 Vermillion St., agreed to open its doors to students and provide childcare and assist with e-learning on Tuesdays and Thursdays for parents who need daycare help. Cripliver said there’s no cap on the number of students who can attend, but parents will have to provide transportation.
If the referendum is passed, Cripliver said five-day bus service could likely resume in November.
A year ago, when the school board voted to put the referendum on the ballot, board members Larry Biggs and Karen Curtis abstained from voting, saying they needed more information.
This time, they voiced support for the referendum.
Curtis and Biggs aren’t seeking re-election in November.
Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
