In Racine County, two of three school referendums ended in upsets for area school districts, leaving parents in Waterford and Raymond disappointed while those in Union Grove celebrated.

For the second time this year, Waterford residents have opted to vote down an operational referendum that would have given the Waterford Graded School District (WGSD) $12 million over the next four years, avoiding major cuts to school staff and programming.

“I don’t think this community realizes how devastating (budget cuts) really are going to be,” Ashley Bzdawka said. “Not just for the schools, but for this community as a whole.”

Bzdawka has three children who attend WGSD and has been one of the district’s most vocal advocates.

She said seeing school referendums pass in other communities has been bittersweet because it gives her optimism for the future, but also shows her what could have been.

Watch: Parents of Racine Co. deals with the mixed results of the school referendum

A Tale of Two Referendums: Different Results in Union Grove and Waterford Maine

“The request was very minimal compared to other referendums that have passed,” she explained. “It’s a very hard pill to swallow when you see other communities supporting their schools.”

For parents near Union Grove, the post-election energy was just the opposite. Voters there approved a nearly $35 million referendum for the area’s high school to upgrade security, make area traffic safer and increase vocational learning.

“It’s almost a ‘holy cow, did I really do that?’ and just… an overwhelming sense of pride,” explained Cari Madrigal.

“I look at it like, this is not just for my kids,” she added. “This is for the kids who are in 4k through 8th grade and all the feeder schools that will come here. This is for my grandchildren.”

Madrigal sees the vote as a success she hopes her neighbors in Waterford and Raymond will achieve. Raymond Village voted against raising revenue for their schools.

“I would ask those communities to rethink and really think about what’s important,” she said. “We all come here and we all leave here and it’s about making everything better than when we came.”

Bzdawka said that while she is disappointed with the outcome, she hopes her community will work together to find a new solution.

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