Wisconsin Education NewsApril 23, 2026A daily update of education news and events that are taking place around Wisconsin. UnConference for Women in School Leadership Oconto schools to cut jobs, but more needed for $1.2 million deficit The Oconto Unified School Board approved a plan in its April 20 meeting to reduce staff by less than initially proposed. But that's not final, and other major decisions remain as the district faces a $1.2 million budget deficit in the wake of its failed spending referendum in the April 7 election. The operational referendum asked voters to allow the district to exceed state-mandated spending limits by $1.2 million a year over five years for ongoing, day-to-day expenses to sustain current services and opportunities for its students. The district has operated under a similar five-year, $800,000-per-year referendum that expires at the end of the current 2025-26 school year. ‘Governor Evers is an educator first and foremost’: Colleagues reflect on Evers’ education legacy Tony Evers has spent over three decades committed to public service. Before becoming governor in 2018, Evers climbed virtually every rung of public education in the state, from high school biology teacher to principal, district superintendent and state superintendent. As Evers leaves the governor seat this November, current and former colleagues applaud his dedication and say his background in education shaped his governorship. “Governor Evers is an educator first and foremost,” Regent Edmund Manydeeds told The Daily Cardinal. “His values and the way he thinks about the Universities of Wisconsin mirror what he brings to the governorship.” Delavan students and parents push back on proposal to shorten school's dual-language program DELAVAN — You're just as likely to find a Latino student within Delavan-Darien Schools as a white student. A dual-language program has helped bridge the cultural gap, but it could be in jeopardy. Delavan-Darien Schools is considering shortening its pre-K through 12th grade dual-language program so it would end in 6th grade instead. De Pere schools superintendent receives outpouring of support following resignation announcement DE PERE, Wis. (WBAY) - Unified School District of De Pere Superintendent Chris Thompson said he has decided to step down after managing a chronic health condition that he said makes the demands of the job increasingly difficult. “I have a chronic health condition called polycythemia vera,” Thompson said. “It’s a, if you look it up, unfortunately, it uses the term blood cancer with it, but it’s a chronic one.” Brillion School District faces $1 million in budget cuts BRILLION (NBC 26) — The Brillion School District is facing tough decisions after voters rejected a $2 million referendum. Without that funding, the district will need to cut about $1 million from the budget, impacting everything from staffing to extracurricular activities and sports. MPS Celebrates Earth Day on Sustainable Playground At Morse Middle School for the Gifted and Talented on Milwaukee’s northwest side, looks can be deceiving. Inside, the ceilings of the 59-year-old building are low. The hallways are dark. There are very few windows. But outside is a reimagined creative space where students can run and play, collect storm water and create art projects. PHOTOS: Mock Crash Demonstration Delivers Powerful Message to Waupun Students Today, students at the Waupun Area Junior/Senior High School witnessed a powerful and sobering parent presentation and mock crash demonstration designed to highlight the very real consequences of impaired and distracted driving. Madison school district celebrates sustainability progress this Earth Day MADISON, Wis. — The Madison Metropolitan School District is highlighting a year of progress across its sustainability efforts this Earth Day. From solar energy production to new electric vehicles and recognition for students, staff, and schools, the school district is also planning to add one megawatt of new solar capacity across its phase one referendum school construction sites. This is expected to come online in 2023. Recent Wisconsin storms have closed schools, damaged classrooms Schools around Wisconsin continue to deal with damage from recent storms that ripped through the state, with classes in some communities canceled and kids in some districts attending alternative sites. Thunderstorms, heavy rainfall and tornadoes hammered Wisconsin last week, causing widespread damage. At least 14 tornadoes hit the state, according to the National Weather Service. Oregon School District celebrates annual bus drivers' breakfast Last week, the Oregon School District celebrated its contractors and bus drivers during the annual Bus Driver Thank You Breakfast. Verona school board approves multiple monitoring reports The Verona Area School District (VASD) Board of Education approved five monitoring reports during a meeting on Monday, April 20. Revenue gap between Wisconsin school districts widening as referendum support declines EAU CLAIRE (WQOW) - Wisconsin school districts are relying more on referendum funding, and that's contributing to a widening funding gap between the districts with the most and the districts with the least, according to a new Wisconsin Policy Forum study. School District of Rhinelander celebrates major middle school improvements with the community School District of Rhinelander voters passed a $26 million capital referendum two years ago. The district and community members celebrated the completion of the work at the middle school which was a large part of the overall project. High school students explore their future paths and options At North Crawford After high school, there are many different paths for graduates to take, whether it is furthering their education, going straight into the workforce, joining the military, or one of the countless other directions students may choose. While there are so many options to consider upon graduation, many schools do not show their students what they are. The North Crawford School District, however, makes a strong effort to represent as many choices for their students as they can. Pulaski automotive program turns students’ passion into possibility Jason O’Brien got his car checked out before getting on the road for spring break. The news wasn’t quite what he expected — but, then again, the shop he took it to was a little out of the ordinary as well. “He found some things yesterday that need some fixing,” O’Brien reported, “so he’s ready to go for me today.” Casimir Pulaski High School is actually O’Brien’s regular automotive shop, and it’s not just because of the convenient location. He’s the school’s principal and has been bringing his vehicle to the lead teacher and students there since he started in the role a few years ago. MPS announces 5-year sustainability plan MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Milwaukee's young people will have a positive impact on the environment through Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS). The district announced a new five-year sustainability action plan on this Earth Day. The plan is taking input from staff, students and families to make the district's environments healthier. D.C. Everest students raise over $1,000 in one day for Ringle tornado relief efforts SCHOFIELD, Wis. (WJFW) — Following Friday’s EF-3 tornado in Ringle, students at D.C. Everest High School have decided to take charge of providing relief for those affected by the twister. The tornado damaged around 75 homes and Riverside Elementary. Wisconsin DPI disputes Trump administration's mismanagement accusation The state Department of Public Instruction is disputing the findings of an audit by the U.S. Department of Education, which found the state agency improperly ran a pandemic relief program and urged returning over $20 million. The state allocated COVID-19 relief funding to private schools that were ineligible to receive aid, according to a September 2025 audit report by the federal department’s Office of Inspector General. Wisconsin DPI hosts listening session on education vision MADISON, Wis. --The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) is inviting the public to a listening session on May 6 in Fennimore. The event is for several counties in Wisconsin to help shape the future of education by contributing to the development of Wisconsin’s “Portrait of a Graduate.” The listening session will be held from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at CESA 3, located at 1300 Industrial Dr. Wisconsin Virtual Beef Farm Tour for Elementary Students Elementary classrooms across Wisconsin are invited to take part in a virtual learning experience that brings the farm directly into their schools. The upcoming online beef farm tour is organized through a partnership between Wisconsin Agriculture in the Classroom, the Wisconsin Beef Council, Alice in Dairyland, and Poppy Family Farms. This 30-minute interactive session will feature Poppy Family Farms in Omro, Wisconsin, where students will virtually meet cattle and learn how beef cattle are raised and cared for on a working farm.
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