Wisconsin Education NewsMarch 31, 2026A daily update of education news and events that are taking place around Wisconsin. 'We've made substantial reductions': Menasha voters face a $6 million school referendum MENASHA, Wis. — After several years of inflation and declining state aid, a number of school districts in northeastern Wisconsin have referendums on the April ballot. The Appleton School District is asking the community for an additional $15 million per year for four years, totaling $60 million. The Fond du Lac District is asking for $7.5 million per year for four years, for a total of $30 million. The Howard-Suamico School District has two referendum questions: a $147 million capital referendum and a $39 million operational referendum. SDR board hears JWMS news, school forest timber sale plans and more in busy session James Williams Middle School earned a sizeable share of the spotlight during the March 23 School District of Rhinelander school board meeting. Next month’s meeting of the school board will actually be held at JWMS as part of a celebration Monday afternoon, April 20. Superintendent of schools Eric Burke told the board the band will start playing there at 4:15 p.m., followed by an open tour to see some of the new classrooms that are part of the $26 million referendum construction project approved by voters in April 2024. The school board meeting will begin at 4:30. Madison schools face ‘segregated reality’ redrawing attendance maps At a quiet Madison School Board meeting in November, a pair of consultants from the Florida-based firm MGT set the tone for the board’s first public discussion about redrawing the maps that determine which schools students attend. Citing past experience and survey responses from residents, the consultants recommended several principles to help guide the Madison Metropolitan School District’s major decisions about its boundary and attendance areas. From cribs to classrooms: Rural Wisconsin schools may fill child care gap The term “desert” has taken on a new meaning in recent years, such as food deserts to describe urban areas without a grocery store, or news deserts in regions without a daily newspaper. In a similar vein, northwest Wisconsin may be facing a child care desert, especially when it comes to licensed facilities to care for small children. “In Bayfield County, we have about 250 licensed daycare slots, and we have about 1,000 kids that are under 5,” said Bayfield County Administrator Mark Abeles-Allison. One possible solution is to utilize K-12 schools, which can provide both a safe facility and trained staff. WHITEFISH BAY, Wis. — Residents in Whitefish Bay have a $135.6 million question to decide on for the upcoming election on April 7. Voters will decide on a school referendum that would build a new middle school and improve facilities in the district. ‘It's important and it's a great investment:' MMSD breaks ground for 4 new schools MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) - Madison Metropolitan School District broke ground at two locations on Monday, starting the process of building four new schools. MMSD says 26 of their schools were built more than 60 years ago, and many are in critical need of upgrades. The groundbreaking was part of Phase 1 of the referendum projects. The district says modernizing the schools will help support students’ needs and prepare them for the future. Watch: West Bend students prepare for East and West high schools to combine WEST BEND, Wis. — Since 1970, there have been two public high schools in West Bend sharing one building: the East High Suns and the West High Spartans. Now, students are reacting to the school board's unanimous vote to combine the two schools. The current sophomore class will be the first to graduate from the combined school when they officially merge in the 2027-28 school year. Neillsville District Administrator Discusses Items From the March School Board Meeting The Neillsville School Board recently held their monthly meeting for March. I spoke with District Administrator Corey Peterson and he discussed some of the items on the agenda in more detail. Evers vetoes GOP bill for new limit on Wisconsin school referendum requests Gov. Tony Evers vetoed a handful of Republican education bills Friday including one that would have put limits on school districts’ ability to seek property tax increases at the ballot box by requiring that the districts submit financial documents on time before going to referendum. As Wisconsin school districts continue to rely on property tax increases sought through referendum to keep up with costs, Republican lawmakers have been seeking ways to put up roadblocks to those efforts. Granton School District Asking Residents to Approve $1.25 Million Referendum on April 7th Ballot At its January 12th meeting, the Granton Area School District School Board approved a five-year, non-recurring operational referendum question that will appear on the ballot Tuesday, April 7, 2026. If a simple majority approves the measure, the district will be able to exceed its revenue limit by $1.25 million annually through the conclusion of the 2030-31 school year. Holmen community rallies for adaptive sports and special needs transition program HOLMEN, Wis. (WKBT) — The Holmen community gathered Saturday for the 16th Annual Holmen Adapted Sports League fundraiser, supporting local athletes with disabilities and Project LIVE, a transition program for young adults with special needs. The event featured tap-bowling, bingo and various auctions to raise funds for equipment, transportation and adaptive resources for inclusive sports programs. Project LIVE operates within the R.W. Houser YMCA and serves young adults with special needs between ages 18 and 21. The School District of Holmen program helps students transition from high school to adult life. Dodgeland Superintendent: Eventual Merger With Hustisford "Possible" JUNEAU) Two Dodge County school districts are holding crucial referendums on April 7. Dodgeland Superintendent Todd Greco told Daily Dodge the possibility of merging with Hustisford is one question he gets more than almost any other. “It’s possible, but we don’t know if that’s ultimately going to be a good decision for Dodgeland or not, but our school board is open to that, and we are looking at it because it’s the prudent thing to do.” Evers vetoes bill to join federal expansion of private voucher schools Gov. Tony Evers vetoed legislation Monday that would have required Wisconsin to opt into a new federal program promoting donations to school scholarships, with Evers saying the program is an expansion of school vouchers. The program, the Educational Choice for Children Act, was included in the reconciliation bill passed by Congress last summer known as the “Big Beautiful Bill.” It isn’t a direct voucher. Instead, it will operate as a federal tax credit allowing people to receive up to a $1,700 credit for donating to nonprofit scholarship-granting organizations. These groups can then distribute the money. (Stevens Point, Wis., March 30, 2026) – U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Wisconsin State Director Andrew C. Iverson today announced that the agency is investing in a farmer-owned food cooperative project that aims to increase minimally processed vegetables in schools and childcare centers throughout Wisconsin. Wisconsin Food Hub Cooperative, a farmer-owned cooperative located in Waupaca, will use a $250,000 grant for working capital to provide packets of grab-and-go sizes of fresh broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, kohlrabi, and radishes. Southeast Wisconsin, Milwaukee educators earn top honors Forty teachers and three principals in Milwaukee and the wider southeastern Wisconsin region are among the state's top educators. The Herb Kohl Education Foundation on March 26 awarded the educators and principals for their work. They'll join a class of 100 teachers and 15 principals recognized in this year's Teacher Fellowship and Principal Leadership awards. The winners receive $6,000 each to honor their leadership and dedication to students. Each awardee's school will also receive a $6,000 grant.
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