Wisconsin Education NewsMarch 20, 2025The Wisconsin Education News is a daily update of education news and events that are taking place around Wisconsin. WBHS Student Council wins WASC Spirit of Excellence Award WEST BEND — The West Bend School District (WBSD) announced on Tuesday that the West Bend High Schools Student Council won the Wisconsin Association of School Councils (WASC) Spirit of Excellence Award for region IV. "This award recognizes schools for achieving excellence in leadership, sportsmanship, and service to their school and communities," a news release said. The April election in Wisconsin includes a race for state school superintendent, who advocates for K-12 education as the leader of the Department of Public Instruction. Like the state Supreme Court race also on the April 1 ballot, the superintendent election is nonpartisan in name only. The state Democratic and Republican parties have lined up behind their preferred candidates and pumped donations into their campaigns. MMSD reassigning staff to new schools after an increase in student enrollment MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) - An administrator with the Madison Metropolitan School District gave an update on Wednesday about staffing changes for the 2025-2026 school year. The district confirmed with WMTV 15 News that rather than cutting any staff positions, it will realign them based on enrollment changes and class size policies. South Milwaukee middle school joins NASA mission SOUTH MILWAUKEE, Wis. — It might not look like the Jet Propulsion Lab, but inside a classroom at South Milwaukee Middle School, students are doing work for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. They are designing sensors to test what's in the air we breathe. Students, educators walk out in Madison MADISON, Wis. — Across the U.S. Wednesday, many students and teachers walked out of school in protest of potential federal funding cuts and layoffs at the Department of Education. School board renews health insurance, postpones action on teacher salaries At their regular meeting Monday March 17, the Hayward Community School Board approved employee health insurance coverage renewal with Health Partners for a premium increase of 7 percent for 2025-26 with no changes in the deductibles. The district pays 95% of the premium and the employee pays 5%. The total premium increase will be $371,213. All MPS schools to be checked for lead hazards MILWAUKEE — The city of Milwaukee Health Department shared some of its results from this past weekend's lead testing clinic at Bradley Tech High School and announced that it will be testing all MPS schools for lead paint hazards. The free screening clinic was prompted after multiple Milwaukee public schools tested positive for lead paint hazards. Children who did not attend MPS schools could also be tested at the clinic. Parents raise concerns as Madison schools adjust staffing for next year MADISON, Wis. -- The Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) is going through the annual process of adjusting staffing throughout the district, but it has raised concerns for some parents. Cornell School Board - After-school is rapidly outgrowing space By Ginna Young It’s a good problem to have – that future after-school showcases at Cornell, will need to move from the elementary library to the elementary gym. The reason? There are so many family and friends who attend, that the school has outgrown the space. “It’s been a lot of change the last couple of years,” said program director Kat Wescott, at a school board meeting, Feb. 24. Wisconsin Dells School District considers closing elementary school WISCONSIN DELLS, Wis. (WMTV) - The Wisconsin Dells School District is considering closing Lake Delton Elementary School. In return, they are looking to build a new middle school or consolidate their four schools into three. “The goal is to never close a school its really to refresh and renew and put our kids in a position to perform their best academically, socially and emotionally and part of that comes from new buildings or remodeled buildings,” the district administrator Terrance Slack said. Somerset School Board votes to keep 2023-2028 Strategic Plan the same The Somerset School Board voted 5-2 to leave verbiage in the 2023-2028 Strategic Plan as currently constructed in a March 10 work session. Somerset School Board President Bruce Baillargeon said it’s important to share information on the Strategic Plan — “so when someone says ‘you’re doing DEI (Diversity Equity and Inclusion) in your school, this is what we mean.’” Public school districts share concerns over cuts to the Dept. of Education AUGUSTA, Wis. (WEAU) - It’s been around one week since the U.S. Department of Education announced it would be laying off half of its workforce. Public school districts in Wisconsin rely on funding from that department for many of their services, and now much of that is up in the air. “This would be a disaster for public education,” Dr. Jill Underly, the Wisconsin State Superintendent, said. Lead in Milwaukee schools; district's long-term maintenance plan due soon MILWAUKEE - Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) has just two days left to figure out a long-term plan for lead issues that closed several of the district's buildings. Beloit School Board votes for report on use of Cunningham school building The School District of Beloit will reexamine its use of the Cunningham school building. On Tuesday night, Beloit School Board members assigned district Director of Facilities Tony Bricco to produce a report on possible alternate uses for the facility. Sheridan Elementary School Unveils New Mural There is a new piece of artwork in the halls of a Sheboygan elementary school. Sheridan Elementary School has unveiled a new mural which was painted by Isabel Castro. New Berlin West students ‘spread the word, to end the word’ NEW BERLIN, Wis. - Some schools in southeast Wisconsin report they're seeing a concerning trend that isn't really new. A hurtful, bad word seems to be back in style, and you don't need to say it to teach kids it's not OK. Career plan changes get board approval The Shawano School Board signed off March 10 on an update to an academic career plan for students at Shawano Community High School and Shawano Community Middle School. The academic career plan is a requirement by the state of Wisconsin to make sure academic and career planning services are available to all students, especially those in grades 6-12. The original plan was approved in February 2024, but any changes must be approved annually by the school board. Green Bay school district, city approve land trade. Two schools may become housing GREEN BAY - A major chapter in Green Bay School District's consolidation effort is coming to a close through a land trade with the city that will lead to the sale or demolition of three schools. The trade agreement, approved by the school district on Monday and the city on Tuesday, would demolish MacArthur, trade a total 17 acres of land and set Elmore and Tank elementary schools on the path toward residential development. For more than an hour, incumbent Superintendent of Public Instruction Jill Underly and challenger Brittany Kinser agreed on several issues: Wisconsin’s performance gap between Black and white students is embarrassing, supporting LGBTQ+ students is a must, and federal education funding can’t be cut. The April election in Wisconsin includes a race for state school superintendent, who advocates for K-12 education as the leader of the Department of Public Instruction. Like the state Supreme Court race also on the April 1 ballot, the superintendent election is nonpartisan in name only. The state Democratic and Republican parties have lined up behind their preferred candidates and pumped donations into their campaigns. Vouchers, teacher shortage, educator license: Takeaways from Wisconsin superintendent debate State Superintendent Jill Underly blasted opponent Brittany Kinser over her experience and credentials during what was likely the only forum featuring both candidates ahead of the April 1 election. "I don’t believe she fully understands how public schools work in Wisconsin," Underly said of Kinser. Underly went on the offensive during the 90-minute event held over Zoom. The candidates took questions on the racial achievement gaps, state teacher shortage and more. Appleton schools seek reinstatement of truancy laws, ordinances (WLUK) -- In 2019, the Appleton Area School District repealed the truancy law that fined families of truant children. Now, they want to reintroduce the law, according to Superintendent Greg Hartjes. Dept. of Public Instruction: Wisconsin launches new resources to inspire creativity in schools MADISON — In celebration of Music, Art, Dance, and Theatre in Our Schools Month, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction is proud to announce the launch of high-quality music, lesson plans, and materials developed by Wisconsin artists and educators. These free resources are designed to inspire creativity and engage students across the state. 2 Wisconsin school counseling programs receive state honor School counselor Bobby Phillips knows where to look for students who are struggling at Mound View Elementary in Dunn County — the data. “The data shows where we need to spend more time,” Phillips said. “Whether it’s attendance, incidents or behaviors — we’re looking for targeted interventions based on that data.” Elm Grove middle school assistant principal named as a finalist for Assistant Principal of the Year WISCONSIN — A Wisconsin associate principal is a finalist for a national Assistant Principal of the Year award. Elizabeth Nelson, associate principal for Pilgrim Park Middle School in Elm Grove, is up for the 2025 Middle Level Principal of the Year award from the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP). State superintendent candidates address potential federal education funding cuts MADISON (WKOW) -- The two candidates running for State Superintendent of Public Instruction, incumbent Dr. Jill Underly and challenger Brittany Kinser, shared their views on potential federal funding cuts to education that could significantly impact Wisconsin. MADISON - As some national Democrats weigh whether to push their party to shift their positions on transgender issues, Wisconsin lawmakers will meet on the floor Thursday in one of the first tests of this debate since losing the White House in November. Assembly lawmakers in this battleground state will take up four bills that seek to ban doctors from providing medical care aimed at changing a child's sex, bar transgender students from joining female sports teams, and require school districts to get parental permission before agreeing to refer to students by new names or pronouns. National walk-ins aims to spotlight risks students with disabilities against education fun MADISON, Wis. --Schools from across the country, including several in the Madison area held a walk-in Wednesday to highlight risks of potential federal funding cuts to special education programs. According to the National Education Association website a walk-in is described as "a type of collective action that can be used to show the power of the people who make our public schools and communities possible." La Crosse Education Association holds walk in LA CROSSE (WKBT) -- Teachers in La Crosse are showing their support for public schools. Wednesday morning, several Logan Middle School teachers participated in a walk in. Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction Announces Transition Readiness Grant Program The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction announced that the application period is now open for the Transition Readiness Grant Program, designed to support students with disabilities as they transition to competitive employment and post-secondary education opportunities.
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