| By Big Radio News Staff |

The School District of Beloit wades a little deeper into referendum waters — but still hasn’t dove all the way in.

On Tuesday night, the board of education decided to contract with Milton-based Hadley Social and Public Relations for 2025 referendum planning.

The vote was 5-1 with Aimee Leavy voting no because the board has not made the formal decision to pursue a referendum next April.

Member Tom Hankins also expressed reticence to hiring PR help before the final referendum decision, but a stipulation to be able to cancel the contract if the board decides against a referendum won his vote.

The agenda for the next board meeting on Tuesday includes an item to formally move ahead with an April ballot measure.

Hadley is charging the district just under $35,000 for an operational referendum campaign or just under $42,000 for a combined operational and capital campaign.

The firm has been in charge of PR for the Woodman’s Center project in Janesville and did marketing for the successful school referendums in Milton and Janesville in the most recent election.