MADISON, Wis. -- The newly elected Madison School Board members aren't mincing words on the district's looming financial crisis as they insist the only way to close a multimillion budget gap is with a community-wide effort.

Class sizes would increase for the first time in 14 years and some schools would close and be consolidated to save up to $10 million under the proposed budget plan.

Beth Moss, one of the two newcomers on the board, said that closing schools should be a last resort.

"If a board member does not want to close or consolidate, they're going to have to cut something else in the budget and those things are going to be bad as well," said Johnny Winston Jr., who was elected to a second term.

Moss and Wilson said that the community as a whole, including the school district and the city of Madison, must begin by making education a priority.

"That is a tie that we really, really do need to strengthen, the City Council and the mayor. And I see myself as one who will be very, very willing to reach out," Moss said.

Winston also said he wants the city involved in discussions.

"If we're going to talk about trolley studies, we also have to talk about student studies. If we're going to have to talk about light bulbs, we have to talk about keeping the lights on in neighborhood schools," he said.

Mayor Dave Cieslewicz said that in his second term, he wants to work more closely with district officials on challenges the city and school district have in common.

Moss and newly elected Maya Cole will be sworn in later this month. As Winston begins his second term, he said he believes Moss and Cole will come to realize that an operating referendum is a foregone conclusion.

"There's a very big difference between being a candidate and talking to the community about what you would like to do and the reality of being on the board," Winston said.

The current board decided against putting a referendum before voters in June, but Winston said it could end up on the ballot in February 2008. If that fails, he said it will be on the ballot next April. Winston said he wouldn't rule out a third shot by putting a referendum before voters in a special election.