Controversy has led to resignations Since 1999, the controversy surrounding the aging middle school has triggered the resignation of two superintendents and the recall of two school board members who supported new construction instead of renovation. Martin, who worked as principal and teacher in the middle school for 24 years, is new to the superintendent s role this year. Complicating the situation is the fact that enrollment is dropping. Martin estimates enrollment in the three district schools elementary, middle and high to be about 1,125 this year, down from 1,186 in 1996-97. There are manufacturing jobs in Bloomer, but the community of 3,000 people is affected by a struggling farm economy.
Voters are reluctant to raise their property taxes.
The 1993 state revenue control law links state school aids and spending limits to enrollment. Declining enrollment districts such as Bloomer are hit hard because school aids drop with enrollment. The result is districts must find ways to stretch declining budgets to maintain programs and buildings while other costs such as utilities and salaries rise. The only way around the spending cap is voter approval. Code violations not corrected The DPI orders followed repair orders from Thomas Pritchett, a Department of Commerce industrial hygienist who in February was referred to the district to check on non-compliance with a 1999 repair order for the ventilation systems in the high school as well as complaints from middle school parents regarding student illnesses.