Wisconsin Education NewsMay 22, 2026A daily update of education news and events that are taking place around Wisconsin. Important choices made at SDR school board meeting An eventful meeting of the School District of Rhinelander board of education ended on an unexpected note Monday, May 18. Emerging from closed session, the board accepted several resignations including that of Kyle Barber, principal of Northwoods Community Elementary School. Effective June 5, the resignation concludes a single year for Barber in that position. Madison students' class rankings may change for UW admission program The Madison school district is seeking state approval to change how it ranks high school students nearing graduation, which could affect how many students qualify for automatic admission to state universities. A state program called The Wisconsin Guarantee grants automatic admission to all Universities of Wisconsin schools, except UW-Madison, for students who rank in the top 10% of their class at the end of 11th grade, if they apply by standard deadlines. The program also automatically admits students in the top 5% of their class to UW-Madison if they apply by an early deadline. Southern Bluffs Elementary celebrates new garden on Wisconsin School Garden Day LA CROSSE (WKBT) -- Southern Bluffs Elementary School marked Wisconsin School Garden Day with a ribbon cutting ceremony for its brand-new garden, completing a district-wide initiative to bring garden programming to every public elementary school. The La Crosse School District has partnered with local nonprofit GROW to establish gardens at all elementary schools, with Southern Bluffs representing the final piece of comprehensive coverage across the district. School district considers meals price increase The Verona Area School District (VASD) Board of Education reviewed school nutrition costs and explored modest increases in student meal prices for the 2026-27 school year at their regular meeting on Monday, May 18. According to a VASD news release, deputy superintendent Chad Wiese and director of food services Robyn Billig shared that rising food, labor, and operational costs continue to put pressure on the district’s Food & Nutrition budget. Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District considering November referendum MIDDLETON, Wis. (WKOW) — The Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District is asking for feedback that will help it determine whether to put an operational referendum on the November ballot. Members of the district's school board said the referendum is under consideration "amid ongoing inflationary pressures and inadequate state funding." Neillsville District Administrator Discusses Items From Neillsville's May School Board Meeting The Neillsville School Board held their monthly meeting for May on Monday. I spoke with District Administrator Corey Peterson and he discussed several items that were approved in preparation for the next school year, but he began by talking about a presentation that started the meeting with Representative Karen Hurd. Spooner Students to Help Decorate Downtown for Memorial Day SPOONER, WI — Spooner High School students will help bring patriotic spirit to downtown Spooner this spring as part of the community’s celebration of America’s 250th anniversary. The Spooner Semiquincentennial Committee has partnered with the Spooner School District to organize a Memorial Day window-decorating project along Walnut Street, in cooperation with interested businesses. Merrill boys’ hockey’s move to GNC OK’ed by WIAA boardv The Great Northern Conference will have a ninth team for boys’ hockey beginning in 2026-27. The WIAA Board of Control approved the addition of Merrill into the GNC starting next season during its May 15 meeting. The move comes after Merrill dissolved its co-operative agreement with Wausau East and will return to being a standalone hockey program next school year. Madison College's new grant brings teacher training program to rural Wisconsin students MADISON, Wis. (WKOW) — Madison College received a $156,000 state grant to expand its Education Pre-Major University Transfer Program to the Reedsburg campus, bringing teacher training opportunities closer to students in rural Wisconsin. The expansion is designed to help address growing teacher shortages in rural communities while giving students the chance to begin their education degrees closer to home before transferring to four-year universities. Wausau West High School students raise money through food truck project WAUSAU, Wis. (WAOW) - Students at Wausau West High School gathered outside their cafeteria during lunch Thursday to support the school’s food pantry while also honoring the memory of a former student who died in an accident. "It’s just something fun that all students can come together and do," says Brayley Howard, Sophomore in Hospitality & Tourism Marketing. Junior Achievement brings hands-on career exploration to La Crosse students LA CROSSE, Wis. (WKBT) — More than 200 seventh-grade students got their hands dirty exploring potential career paths Thursday at Western Technical College, where Junior Achievement organized an interactive showcase of trade professions. Eight businesses and organizations participated in the event designed to demonstrate the importance and appeal of working in skilled trades. Students from Longfellow Middle School rotated through stations like construction, marine diving, and welding demonstrations.
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