Wisconsin Education NewsJune 12, 2025A daily update of education news and events that are taking place around Wisconsin. Launching Academy- Begins August 2025 School leadership is essential to high performing schools. It is the mission of the Launching Academy to provide the support necessary for early career principals and associate principals to succeed. If you, or a colleague, will be starting in an initial administrative role (or beginning a first year in a different administrative role), register for AWSA’s 2025-26 Launching Academy. WALES, Wis. (CBS 58) -- The Kettle Moraine school board voted Wednesday night to close Magee Elementary. The already controversial decision had an added layer of frustration for parents and teachers because an email went out one day before the vote stating Magee was the school board members chose for closure. Menasha Joint School District nearing deal to take over UWO-Fox Cities Childcare Center MENASHA (WLUK) -- With their school year over and their campus now vacant, UW-Oshkosh Fox Cities is beginning to welcome new tenants. The Menasha Joint School District (MJSD) agreed Wednesday to lease the on-campus childcare center from Winnebago County. The deal is pending approval from the Winnebago County Facilities and Property Management Committee, which votes next Tuesday. Efforts to make Locust Lane Elementary School’s playground more accessible EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (WEAU) - For many kids, going to the playground is one of the best parts of the day. But for some, the playground can have some extra challenges. One mom is looking to change that. Green Bay school superintendent issues public letter to lawmakers over school funding GREEN BAY, Wis. (WBAY) - The Green Bay Area Public School District Superintendent is speaking out publicly over her concerns about school funding in the upcoming Joint Committee on Finance meeting. Superintendent Vicki Bayer published a letter in advance of the Joint Finance Committee meeting scheduled for Thursday. Dodge County Schools Recognized By The DPI The Beaver Dam School District was named a High Impact School, along with Watertown School District. High Impact Schools serve a high percentage of economically disadvantaged students. DPI officials say these schools have above-average achievement when compared to similar schools. Milwaukee (CNN) — The library at Starms Discovery Learning Center has cheerful peach and blue walls, and squat wooden shelves filled with books wrapped in thick plastic jackets to protect them from the touches and smudges of many small hands. On Monday, the library became a place to exchange other stories, too – darker stories. These were stories of stressed mothers and anxious kids, of graduating fifth-graders missing out on end-of-year celebrations. The stories were about families with a dangerous toxin – lead – in their homes and now in their public schools. Those families shared stories about brain damage and learning disabilities, and about a federal government that has denied them help. Two Rivers Public Schools Accepts Grant for Mental Health Funding Two Rivers Public Schools is accepting a donation to help provide students with mental health treatment. District puts strong emphasis on Career and Technical Education North Crawford Building on the success of the Youth Apprenticeship Program, and following receipt of a Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) Fabrication Laboratory (Fab Lab) grant, North Crawford is gearing up for a strong focus on Career and Technical Education (CTE) in the district. Can virtual reality solve Wisconsin’s school math problems? Wisconsin lawmakers are hoping virtual reality headsets can improve the state’s dismal eighth grade math scores. A Republican-sponsored bill would require the state Department of Public Instruction to pilot a virtual reality technology program. Under the plan, DPI would select one urban, one suburban and one rural school district totaling 16,000 students and provide at least 3,200 VR headsets. Elmbrook school board leadership fined for 2020 meetings violation The leadership of the Elmbrook School Board will pay small fines, and the attorney for the woman who filed a complaint against them will receive more than $13,000 under an agreement filed in Waukesha County Circuit Court to resolve a five-year-old case that arose out of a violation of the state Open Meetings Law. MPSD Borrows Money for Improvements as Part of 2025 Referendum The Manitowoc Public School District has taken its first step toward making improvements at several schools. The school board approved borrowing $14 million last night as part of the $25 million referendum passed by voters last November. Information gathering sessions next for building capacity plan WAUKESHA — The School District of Waukesha Finance & Facilities Committee heard an update on the long-range budget planning process during its meeting on Monday. The district will hold information gathering sessions with staff and the community along with posting a survey online this month. The School District of Waukesha’s goal is to reduce building capacity by 10% to 15% to be in line with the current enrollment trends. The focus will be on K-8 schools. Newly circulated bill would create VR technology program in Wisconsin school districts MADISON - A trio of Republican lawmakers is proposing to create a trial run in Wisconsin schools to use virtual reality technology to teach core math concepts and skills. The bill, authored by Reps. Patrick Snyder, R-Weston, and Rep. Joel Kitchens, R-Sturgeon Bay, alongside Sen. Dan Feyen, R-Fond du Lac, would create a pilot program that would utilize virtual reality to engage students by allowing them to experience real-life situations. Franklin Elementary in Manitowoc has been recognized as one of 70 schools in Wisconsin to receive a High Importance Award from the Department of Public Instruction. Becker’s Brain and Behavior lab class leans into collaboration with high school students Dr. Elizabeth Becker, associate professor of neuroscience at Lawrence University, has taken lessons in her Brain and Behavior laboratory class beyond campus. Nine students from Appleton East High School joined her students earlier this year for a series of collaborative sessions. MADISON — The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction held the first standard setting open meeting for school and district report cards on Tuesday. The panel of more than 30 education leaders from across Wisconsin — representing public, private choice, and charter schools — is meeting this summer to review and update the performance rating thresholds in the state’s school and district report cards. Public education makes its case Thursday before Wisconsin’s Joint Finance Committee Wisconsin’s budget writing committee will turn its attention to public school funding Thursday. On the line is everything from increasing the special education reimbursement rate to supporting youth mental health to providing meals to children. Gov. Tony Evers’ budget includes more than $3.15 billion for K-12 public schools, including the largest direct investment in state general school aid in 30 years. Wisconsin statewide K-12 art showcase 2025: See dozens of submissions This school year, Wisconsin K-12 students created artwork using stained glass, soapstone, recycled cardboard and liquid sterling silver. One student drew a peacock using oil pastel; another modeled an alien using clay. Those were among the submissions to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Spring 2025 Statewide Student Art Showcase. All artwork was submitted by teachers and created by students in kindergarten through 12th grade in the 2024-25 school year. Special education aid: Why districts like ECASD are advocating for a raise in the budget EAU CLAIRE — As the Wisconsin biennial budget discussion continues with a deadline of June 30 for the end of the fiscal year, the Joint Finance Committee is set to talk about taxes and school funding today. Many advocates for school funding and school districts have discussed special education funding as talks on the budget continue. But what is this discussion on special education funding about? PS’s LaFollette School Cleared of Lead Risks After Stabilization Work MILWAUKEE— Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) Superintendent Brenda Cassellius today announced LaFollette School was cleared by the City of Milwaukee Health Department (MHD) after the school underwent renovations and painting to clear the school of lead risks. Spring Harbor Middle School crowned 2025 AAHAC champions MADISON, Wis. -- Eighth-graders Teresa Ketarkus and Makai Moore and seventh-grader Elias Ketchum of Spring Harbor Middle School were crowned national champions at the 2025 African-American History Academic Challenge last week. The three Madison Metropolitan School District students competed against 14 teams from around the country in a multi-tiered competition that started this winter.
|