Interpreting the election results

The voters have spoken, and some messages are coming through on this election night. First, in the Ripon School District, the referendum questions came out just as the Commonwealth-Press recommended. Voters said yes to spending more money on infrastructure (boilers, roofs, textbooks and technology) and no to spending more money on the less tangible items such as staffing and payroll. The debate will now turn to what cuts, if any are needed to balance the 2009-2010 budget. Yes, some teachers and other support staff are going to likely lose their jobs unless some changes are made in the current benefit and wage structure throughout the entire district.

Voters also returned the two incumbents to the school board, and added Denise Martinez to the mix. I wish all three of them best of luck in the upcoming months as the district faces some tough decisions with its dollars.

One clear message I see coming through is that, yes, voters and taxpayers are frustrated and looking for leadership and forward-thinking. They are also not buying into the recent flurry of accusations against the district of mismanagement and not minding the store which have become a monthly occurence in the editorial section of the local paper. The claims of mistrust and anger do not find themselves reflected in the election results. If that had been the case, I doubt even one referendum question would have passed, and we certainly would not have seen BOTH incumbents elected. Now is the time to put this negativity and mudslinging behind us, and focus on the future and in providing the best, but also most affordable education we can in Ripon.