After the Waupun Area School District School Board decided and voted to close the Fox Lake Elementary School, a meeting was called by the CARE group to discuss alternatives in an attempt to keep the Fox Lake Elementary School open. One of the alternatives discussed was to possibly detach from the Waupun School District and attach to the Randolph School District to reduce the travel time for our elementary students. We must also look at the impact of lower assessments on our property as a result of not having an elementary school in Fox Lake. The consensus of the CARE group is as follows:

1. Make all attempts to keep the Fox Lake Elementary School open (keeping in mind that the time line for detachment would mean opening the school in the 2010-2011 school year).
2. With the detachment from the Waupun School District application deadline of July 1st, set by the State of Wisconsin, CARE would have to collect signatures from 50% of the property owners of the City and the Town of Fox Lake to file a petition.

There are many questions about how this would all work out. We will attempt to get some of these answers by our next meeting to be held at the Fox Lake Community Center on March 31st at 6:30pm. In the meantime, we need your input.

• MARCH 31st, 2009 - 6:30 pm
  • CARE Meeting at the Fox Lake Community Center
• APRIL 4th, 2009 - 6:00 pm
  • CARE (SOS) Fund Raiser at the Boat House Pub & Eatery, Chief Kuno Trail, Fox Lake
  • Funds donated will be for mailings, phone bills, attorneys fees and other costs needed by CARE for efforts to Save our School (SOS)

An account for CARE funds will be set up at the Farmers State Bank in Fox Lake. Please make checks payable to "CARE-Fox Lake". Funds may be deposited at any time, after Sunday, March 22nd, directly at the bank or by mail to Anne McCarthy at 105 W. Crocker St.. Fox Lake, WI 53933.

Thank you for your input, support and donations in helping us in the efforts to keep the Fox Lake Elementary School open and the possible attachment to the Randolph School District.

I met with the Superintendent of Randolph Schools, Dr. Greg Peyer today to discuss the possibility of attaching to the Randolph School District and told him about our meeting last night with the residents of the City and Town of Fox Lake. The main two points expressed by this group were to keep the Fox Lake Elementary School open, if it all possible, and to look at attachment to the Randolph School District. The Randolph Board and Superintendent have had some "off the record" casual discussions about the number of students that would be coming to Randolph if we were to attach. Part of that discussion included the necessity of using the elementary school in Fox Lake to accommodate the additional students. The Randolph School District had to turn away 12 Waupun Area School District students in the lower grades K-3 for the 2009-2010 school year due to lack of space. It is my understanding they would be very open to having students in the Fox Lake Elementary School.

I also asked about debt in the Randolph School District. At this time, there is no capital debt and they are possibly looking at additional rooms for elementary grades. The elementary school in Fox Lake could solve that need. We will be picking up more information from Dr. Peyer next week and will share that information at the March 31st meeting.