Maass, School Board Make Push for Referendum

GREEN BAY, Wis. (WTAQ) - Community members go to school to learn about the upcoming $16.7 million Green Bay school referendum.

"We're trying to be straightforward, consise and brief and make it understandable so people see there's value here," Superintendent Greg Maass said.

Before a crowd at Elmore Elementary, Maass led the push for maintenance funds and technology upgrades, but not without some opposition.

"Times are rough these days. People are losing their houses, they're losing jobs and they want to raise our taxes," one man told the audience.

But Maass says it's not a tax hike and it will actually save taxpayers money. The referendum is two questions -- one focuses on maintenance; the other on technology.

"They're the most urgent needs of all of our facilities and we want to have a consistent platform for our technology so all of our kids can have the same expectation when they come to school every day," Maass said.

Hellen Hitter is an Elmore alumna and supports the referendum.

"It's a very well built school and I think it's worth preserving, as are the other schools in our district," Hitter said.

Another forum is coming up on March 30th at East High School.

(Click below to hear News Talk WTAQ correspondent Trevor Kubiak's report.)