Wisconsin Education NewsDecember 19, 2025A daily update of education news and events that are taking place around Wisconsin. De Pere High School welcomes AI-powered ‘Big Red’ to keep classrooms clean DE PERE (NBC 26) — It doesn’t chat, gossip, or grumble about homework — but De Pere High School’s newest addition is already the talk of campus. The school has invested $89,000 in a new autonomous floor scrubber, part of a growing wave of artificial intelligence tools making their way into education. Meet “Big Red” Fort Atkinson school boards hears 5-year budget projections FORT ATKINSON – The Fort Atkinson school board heard a report Thursday night on the school district’s financial projections for the next five years. “This “Base Scenario” will be the starting point for further discussions regarding budget planning for 2026-27. If we can understand this base scenario and the assumptions that are a part of it, we can then discuss possible future budget and referendum scenarios,” Nathan Knitt, the school district’s director of business services, wrote in a memo to the school board that was included in Thursday night's online meeting documents. Stevens Point School District earns Spectrum Awards for communication STEVENS POINT − The Stevens Point Area Public School District has received multiple Spectrum Awards from the Wisconsin School Public Relations Association, according to a community announcement. The district earned a 2025 Award of Merit in the Video, Short category for "Beyond Expectations," the district’s 2024 Back-to-School Kickoff Video. It also received an Award of Excellence and Best in Category recognition for its 2024-25 website redesign. MMSD works to reduce seclusion and restraint incidents involving students with disabilities MADISON, Wis. — The Madison Metropolitan School District is working to reduce seclusion and restraint incidents after data showed that nearly 30% of such cases last school year involved students with disabilities. During the 2024-2025 school year, MMSD reported 506 seclusion and restraint incidents, a decrease from the previous school year. Of these, 156 incidents involved students with disabilities, that's approximately 30% of all cases. G-E-T Middle School hosts 2025 STEAM Roadshow GALESVILLE, Wis. (WKBT) -- G-E-T Middle School students engaged in hands-on learning experiences Thursday as the school launched its two-day STEAM Roadshow, designed to integrate technology and creativity into classroom learning. The interactive event, running from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 18, and Friday, Dec. 19, allows students to rotate through multiple stations where they fly mini drones, code Sphero RVR and Sphero Bolt robots to complete various challenges, and participate in art projects. Milwaukee School Board to consider tighter limits on police in schools It's been nine months since Milwaukee School Board members were forced to accept Milwaukee police officers in their schools indefinitely, under orders from state lawmakers to revive a school resource officer program. As they look toward another year with the officers, school board President Missy Zombor is proposing tighter parameters for the program. A resolution introduced Dec. 18 would set limits on officers' involvement in non-criminal behavior and require more detailed public reporting of their activity. Wausau School District Has a New Interim Assistant Superintendent of Operations WAUSAU, WI — Elizabeth Channel will take over the role of Interim Assistant Superintendent of Operations after Jon Viegut Resigned. Channel has been with the school district since 2016, and has worked previously as a 5th-grade teacher at Thomas Jefferson, was a principal at Hewitt-Texas Elementary, while also serving as the Head of School for the Wausau Area Montessori Charter School. Businesses support St. Croix Central’s CTE classes The relationship between area businesses and the St. Croix Central School District as it pertains to CTE classes have only grown over the years. High School Teacher Brook Reyzer explained during last month’s school board meeting Guy Metals has donated metals of all shapes and sizes; Donaldson’s and OEM donate coupons; OEM also offers equipment; and St. Croix Electric Co-op donates metal electric wheels for Metals 2. Parent heartbroken as rural Dodge County school faces dissolution or consolidation HUSTISFORD, Wis. — The Hustisford School District's future is uncertain as the administration decides how best to try and stay open. The district consists of two schools and about 240 students, grades K-12. After the most recent school board meeting, the superintendent said they need more money to keep the lights on. MPS rejects Pius proposal to build sports complex at a public park Milwaukee School Board members have rebuffed interest from a private school, Pius XI Catholic High School, which had explored the idea of building an outdoor sports complex at a nearby public park run by the school district. The action came after Milwaukee Common Council member Sharlen Moore had expressed support for the school exploring plans to build on the park, Dyer Playfield, which abuts Honey Creek Parkway on the city's west side. Editor's note: Tony Sweere, the longtime administrator of the Hilbert School District, announced his upcoming retirement in a letter to the district on Thursday. The letter is below. Former Beloit principal recalls lessons he learned here BELOIT — James Fitzpatrick has fond memories of Beloit and the people he worked with in the School District of Beloit. He now is sharing some of his memories and the lessons he learned in Beloit in his memoir, “The Intersection of Faith and Leadership: Memoirs of a School Administrator,” which is available for sale on Amazon. Fitzpatrick served as principal of Beloit Memorial High School from 1986-1997. He then became superintendent of the Fort Atkinson School District in 1999, retiring from that position in 2013. In 2014, and continuing to the present, he has been a professor of education leadership in the masters and doctorate program for National Louis University. Shell Lake School Board Approves Operational Referendum For April 2026 Ballot On Monday, December 15th, the School District of Shell Lake Board of Education approved an operational referendum question that will be on the ballot Tuesday, April 7, 2026. If a simple majority of voters approve the measure, the district will have the ability to exceed its revenue limit by $650,000 annually through the end of the 2029-30 school year. These funds would be used to support operational expenses. ANTIGO — Director of Special Education and Pupil Services Deborah Wagner wrote to the board in her monthly report, the district continues to work with members of the Department of Instruction’s (DPI) Transition Improvement Grant team. “At this time, with the Unified School District of Antigo, being federally notified for students with disabilities graduation rates and drop out rates, the district continues to work with members of the DPI’s Transition Improvement Grant Team,” she wrote. “Prior reports noted the creation of the Graduation Rate Improvement team (GRIP team), which will continue to look into data for students with disabilities around graduation rates and drop out rates.” RACINE, WI — Racine Unified School District (RUSD) is asking $975,000 for the Jefferson Lighthouse school building. The sale is part of the district’s long-range facilities plan included in the 2020 facilities referendum. While the property is currently owned by RUSD, the development or redevelopment of the site will need to go through city channels for approval once the sale is final. MADISON, WI – State Rep. Angelina Cruz (D-Racine) has introduced a new bill to address what she calls a “morally objectionable” disparity in how Wisconsin reimburses special education services in public versus private schools. Her proposal comes as many public school districts across the state continue grappling with lower-than-expected special education reimbursements for the 2025-26 school year. School board OKs Miracle League field at Sugar Creek The Verona Area School District (VASD) could be the newest home to a Miracle League of Dane County baseball field as soon as summer 2027. Board of Education members shared their approval for a proposal to open a Miracle League field on Sugar Creek Elementary School grounds during a meeting on Monday, Dec. 15. The Miracle League is a nonprofit organization that gives children with cognitive and physical disabilities the experience of playing baseball. Raymond 7th graders explore planets and gases in creative STEAM projects RAYMOND, WI – Seventh-grade science students at Raymond School recently showcased their creativity and curiosity during a hands-on STEM unit exploring planetary atmospheres represented by colors. First, students selected a planet and investigated the gases that make up its atmosphere with science teacher Zoe Rodriguez. Next, they worked with teacher Brooke Adamczyk to create pour paintings with different colors that represented the gas makeup of their chosen planet. Dairyland Power Cooperative: Supports schoolwide snack program at Hintgen Elementary La Crosse, WI— Dairyland Power Cooperative’s partner school, Hintgen Elementary, will benefit from a $5,000 combined donation from Dairyland and President & CEO Brent Ridge. Dairyland donated $2,500 in support of Hintgen’s schoolwide snack fund; Ridge and his wife, Lisa, matched the donation. MILWAUKEE — Teachers in Wisconsin are leaving the workforce at an alarming rate, according to a 2024 report from the Department of Public Instruction. That report shows that four out of every 10 first-year teachers either leave the state or the profession altogether after just six years. Milwaukee Public Schools is one of many districts nationwide that is having a hard time filling its open teaching positions. One solution the district implemented is trying to attract retired teachers back to the profession. Wisconsin Democrats propose eliminating property taxes for schools after record increases this year MADISON (WKBT) -- Wisconsin property owners face their steepest tax increases in years, prompting state Democrats to propose sweeping legislation that would eliminate property taxes for K-12 education entirely. The Wisconsin Policy Forum's annual property tax study reveals property tax levies will experience their biggest jump since 2018, with K-12 schools serving as the main driver behind the increase. Hundreds of Stevens Point students treated to basketball game on first ever 'Education Day' Logan Middle School rain garden earns recognition from La Crosse Area Waters LA CROSSE (WKBT) -- Logan Middle School students received recognition for their environmental stewardship efforts when La Crosse Area Waters named the school its 2025 Featured Property. The honor recognizes the school's 740-square-foot rain garden, which captures and filters storm water runoff. Students planted the garden last year as part of an environmental education initiative. Leader staff discusses rural journalism, sports coverage in school presentation Students in a sports writing class at Luck High School learned about the unique challenges and rewards of rural journalism and sports coverage on Thursday, Dec. 11, when two Inter-County Leader staff members visited. Editor Robert Tabern and senior reporter Sarah Beth Radomsky spoke to the class taught by physical education teacher Jessica Jacobson. The visit was chronicled in a Dec. 17, 2025 article that appeared in the Inter-County Leader in Frederic.
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