Wisconsin Education News
November 4, 2026
A daily update of education news and events that are taking place around Wisconsin.
La Crosse superintendent Aaron Engel named 2027 Wisconsin Superintendent of the Year
Dr. Aaron Engel, superintendent of the La Crosse Public Schools, has been named the 2027 Wisconsin Superintendent of the Year by the Wisconsin Association of School District Administrators.
Dane County voters pass three school funding referendums
Three school funding referendums in Dane County passed at the ballot box Tuesday, according to preliminary election results from the county clerk.
Dem flip control of Wisconsin Assembly
Democrats flipped control of the state Assembly on Tuesday, taking the majority for only the second time in the past 32 years as they won all eight of their targeted seats.
Ripon Referendum Barely Passes
Voters passed an operational referendum for the Ripon Area School District Tuesday by 135 votes. There were 2,230 yes votes to 2, 095 no votes. Meanwhile, voters in the Markesan School District rejected a request to exceed the revenue cap by $700,000 annually over four years. The tally was 1,016 yes votes to 1,492 no votes. The referendum was defeated by 476 votes.
School referendum roundup: Athens, Edgar operational school referendums pass; two fail
The Athens operational referendum was asking for $600,000 per year for four years, while Edgar was asking for $1.4 million per year over five years.
Hillsboro School District referendum fails, putting programs and staff at risk
Voters in the Hillsboro School District rejected a four-year operational referendum extension that would have provided $1.1 million annually to maintain current programs and services.
Cashton voters reject school funding referendum, putting programs at risk
The measure failed with 53% voting no and 47% voting yes. The referendum would have provided funding for three years starting next year.
Voters approve $158 million, 4-year referendum for Green Bay Area Public Schools
District officials say the millions of dollars are needed because a previous referendum is expiring and because of declining enrollment, inflation and a state funding gap.
Voters in the Winter School District pass an operational referendum
The operational referendum on the November ballot asked taxpayers for an additional $1.5 million for each of the next four years- beginning with the 2027-2028 school year. This was the second time the district has asked for an operational referendum, and was the final chance to secure funding, in order to avoid the entire district from being dissolved.
Voters pass Middleton-Cross Plains School District referendum
The district asked voters to approve a four-year, non-recurring operational referendum to replace funding approved in 2022 that expires at the end of the 2026-27 school year.
De Soto Area School District voters approve exceeding state revenue limits through 2029
De Soto Area School District voters approved a referendum allowing the district to exceed state-imposed revenue limits by $500,000 for the 2026-2027 school year, $1.4 million for the 2027-2028 school year and $1.7 million for the 2028-2029 school year.
Elmbrook voters approve $100 million school referendum
Voters in the Elmbrook School District have approved a $100 million referendum that will fund improvements at four of the district’s oldest schools.
Voters in the Black River Falls School District failed an operational referendum
This was the first operational referendum on the ballot. It asked taxpayers for $1 million over each of the next four years. Shelly Severson, Superintendent, says the school district will have to make meaningful reductions.
Voters in the Bloomer School District Tuesday failed a capital referendum
School district officials say the Board’s decision to propose the referendum to voters followed a multi-year approach that included more than two years of facility planning, financial analysis, community engagement and input from a Community Facility Planning Committee.
Westby Area School District voters approve $1.6M operational referendum
The district requested $1.6 million in 2027-28, $1.7 million in 2028-29 and $1.8 million in 2029-30. Since 2018, the district has relied on voter approval every three years to help cover operating costs.
November Election: Brillion School District referendum approved
The referendum gives the district the authorization to exceed the revenue limit by $1 million per year through the 2030-31 school year.
Milwaukee Public Schools loses $450,000 in bank impersonation fraud
Milwaukee Public Schools was the victim of bank impersonation fraud by someone outside the district, resulting in an initial loss of approximately $450,000, Superintendent Brenda Cassellius announced Tuesday.
|
