Wisconsin Education NewsDecember 1, 2025A daily update of education news and events that are taking place around Wisconsin. Franklin schools sue city over permits for $145 million projects Disagreements between Franklin Public Schools and the City of Franklin over $145 million worth of school district projects have landed the two in court. The school district is suing the city, alleging the municipality overstepped with conditions on permits. The projects were approved by referendum, but some neighboring residents say the district isn't following what was approved. MADISON - As his favorite author Rosemary Sutcliff would have put it, William W. Kean, 95, went “into the West beyond the Sunset” on October 28, 2025. He was preceded in death by his wife of 68 years, Sydney C. Kean. He is survived by his son, William A. “Billy” (Julie) Kean of Madison. A devoted husband and loving father, his uncompromising attitude and unique sense of humor made an indelible impression on all who knew him. Milton elementary schools score high on DPI report cards MILTON — Milton’s elementary schools all “exceeded expectations” or “significantly exceeded expectations” on 2024-25 state report cards. Consolidated Elementary scored a 97.9 overall with a 98.6 score in overall achievement. Its achievement score in ELA was 97.2, higher than the state average of 64.7. Its math achievement score was 100, higher than the 68.6 score statewide. Green Bay School Board discusses allowing non-clear backpacks again GREEN BAY, Wis. (WBAY) - The Green Bay School District is discussing a new safety policy that would require students to keep backpacks in lockers. It comes months after the district decided to require clear backpacks for middle and high school students. That policy went into effect after a student was arrested for bringing a gun to Preble High School. It’s been nearly a decade since Eve Galanter, a retired teacher and reporter in Madison, read the news story that led her to start a statewide competition to get high schoolers excited about government. Galanter, now 84, had just read a Wisconsin State Journal article headlined “All three school board incumbents running unopposed.” SASD Nearing Completion of Design Phase for Farnsworth, Urban Middle School Projects The Sheboygan Area School District has provided an update on the ongoing referendum projects at Urban and Farnsworth Middle Schools. Currently, these two projects remain on schedule with a large majority of design aspects already completed. Green Bay school board considers prohibiting backpacks in classrooms to improve safety GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Improving safety in the Green Bay Area Public School District has been a topic of discussion for months, and on Monday, the Board of Education debated it again. This time, they considered a proposal that would require students to keep their backpacks in their lockers. GOP bills to boost school district consolidation support come amid enrollment decline As GOP lawmakers advance legislation to encourage school districts to merge amid declining birth rates in Wisconsin, education stakeholders say districts considering consolidation could use extra support. The state’s population is projected to drop by nearly 200,000 by 2050, and those backing the legislation have cited the projection to argue maintaining 421 school districts is unsustainable. According to the Department of Public Instruction, more than two-thirds of the state’s districts show declining enrollment and more than half of the districts across the state serve fewer than 1,000 students. Sun Prairie educator's passion for teaching leads to Outstanding Educator award Even though she teaches animal science, among other agriculture-related subjects, baking bread in class isn’t so unusual for Sun Prairie West High School’s Jenny Herman. Food science and production are part of her curriculum, and she’s known for going above and beyond to find interesting ways of getting related concepts across to her students. It’s just one of the reasons Herman’s been named a Wisconsin Education Association Member Benefits’ Outstanding Educator. Bangor High School students give back during district-wide Community Service Day BANGOR, Wis. (WKBT) -- Bangor High School students traded textbooks for rakes and cleaning supplies Tuesday during the district's Community Service Day, spreading across four communities to give back through hands-on service projects. Students spent the afternoon supporting teachers, younger students, community organizations, local parks and cemetery grounds across Bangor, West Salem, Rockland and Sparta. Local high school makes metal snowflake decorations for NEW Zoo & Adventure Park SUAMICO, Wis. (WBAY) - NEW Zoo & Adventure Park is displaying metal snowflakes created by 80 students from Ashwaubenon High School as part of their holiday decorations this month. Three tech education classes at the high school used donated metal to design, weld and create the snowflakes over several weeks. The project allowed students to apply classroom skills to a community project. With 40,000 items, one turkey costume, these Fox Valley schools helped This November, students and teachers from all over the Fox Valley gave back to their communities with thousands of dollars in cash, food and other items. They went through wish lists, collected canned goods and put together raffle baskets — and, in one case, put on a turkey costume. Little Chute teacher Ali Armstrong said that schools giving back is "a good way to kick off the holiday season and the spirit of giving." Here's the impact these schools had this November, by the numbers. 'Time taxpayers know': School asks city to disclose voucher payments on tax bills The Ashland School District asked the city council Nov. 18 to show taxpayers how much of their property taxes fund private school vouchers. The answer: $870,247, or 11% of the district’s $7,802,643 levy for 2026. The school board passed a resolution in October requesting the city include voucher costs on property tax bills. The goal is transparency in a funding system many residents don’t fully understand. School Board hears results on survey for possible future referendum SHELL LAKE — Community surveys done in the Shell Lake School District showed strong feedback regarding another possible referendum, as presented to the School Board on Monday, Nov. 17. The district has been facing financial struggles over the years, much of which is due to lack of state aid coming in and rising costs. Two operational referendums in the November 2024 and April elections, asking voters in the district whether or not to exceed the revenue limit on a four-year, non-recurring basis, to begin in the 2025-26 school year, were voted down, and the district has been having discussions on where to go next. Manitowoc Public School District recommends closing schools and making changes to others MANITOWOC, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Amid budget shortfalls and declining enrollment, school districts across Northeast Wisconsin have been forced to make cuts — and Manitowoc could soon have to do the same. The Manitowoc Public School District is recommending a number of major changes to its facilities and presented their proposal to the school board Tuesday night. Chippewa Falls School Board Approves Boundary Adjustments The Chippewa Falls School Board voted to approve adjustments to the district’s elementary school boundary lines to balance enrollment. Like many districts across the state, the Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District has seen declining enrollment over recent years. While some districts have proposed consolidating schools to address that enrollment decline, the Chippewa Falls School Board only sought to keep class sizes even between its elementary schools. Driver crashes into Sun Prairie elementary school, severe damage reported SUN PRAIRIE, Wis. — A person sustained minor injuries Wednesday morning after a driver crashed into the front of Meadow View Elementary School. Police said an officer witnessed a vehicle traveling on North Grand Avenue leave the road, drive through a fence, down a steep embankment, and crash into the school at around 5:43 a.m. Neillsville School Board Approves Academic and Career Plan and Other Items The Neillsville School Board approved the Academic and Career Plan at their meeting on Monday. They approved the Redefining Ready Annual Report and heard a building project update presented by Building and Grounds Director Mark Spencer. The Board also approved increasing athletic officials’ pay to $50 per MS contest and $75 per HS contest and approved the Warrior Strength Club student club application. Sheboygan South football players were going hungry until the team and community stepped up SHEBOYGAN — Football is not an easy sport, which is to be expected when the playing field is nicknamed the gridiron. Game prep and practices takes hours of mental and physical effort, so what happens when players have basic needs that aren’t being met. That was the question Sheboygan South coach Mike Rank was forced to answer when he realized a lot of his players were practicing and coming to games hungry. Door County School Districts Continue to "Exceed Expectations" in State Report Cards Four Door County school districts continue to “exceed expectations” in the 2024-25 school year Department of Public Instruction (DPI) report cards, while Gibraltar “significantly exceeds expectations.” The annual report cards include a variety of data points regarding the performance of all schools in the state. The overall accountability score assigned to each school and district, a number between 0 and 100, takes into account various measures like academic achievement and growth, according to the DPI website. Milton schools: Vacated maintenance shed could be repurposed as ag class animal barn MILTON — The School District of Milton, in relocating its longtime maintenance shed, would open the door for that vacated space to be renovated as a barn for animal science education. A new 9,000-square-foot maintenance shed is envisioned to be constructed on the site of a former ice rink on the northeast corner of Central Park, along Municipal Drive near Hilltop Drive. Reality Check: Verona DECA chapter holds personal finance event for juniors, seniors The day played out like the well-known, but unpredictable, Game of Life. After choosing a career path, Verona Area High School (VAHS) students received a fictional profile with their income, credit score, dependents and marital status. Students then stopped by different booths and made financial choices based on these given scenarios. N-O-W highlights: Brookwood celebrates a strong start to the school year Greetings from Brookwood! Our students and staff are off to an outstanding start as students and staff move into the second quarter of the 2025–2026 school year. With academic achievement, artistic excellence, and community engagement on full display, the district continues to take pride in the many accomplishments of its students. District secures two more sponsorships for new MHS The School District of Monroe announced a generous lifetime sponsorship agreement with Cecil Jones VFW Post 2312 and American Legion Zilmer-Reilly Post No. 84 to support the installation of the flag pole at the new Monroe High School. This meaningful gift, totaling $5,604, fully funds the project and will play a lasting role in honoring the courageous service of our nation’s veterans. Kenosha Charter School finds permanent campus at closed Pick ‘n Save A Kenosha charter school has found its new home — an old Pick ‘n Save grocery. Kenosha Technology Enhanced Curriculum Schools of Innovation is a STEM-focused, independent charter school that teaches children from 4K through 12th grade. KTEC purchased the 56,000-square-foot building in October for $5 million. The school currently operates out of a former Catholic school building. MPS wraps lead-paint work at 100 schools. Here's the price and what's next On the day before Thanksgiving at Milwaukee’s Congress School off the Lincoln Creek parkway on the city's west side, students were out for fall break but the school was abuzz. Workers in yellow wove painting carts around desks, applying final touches to window frames and radiators where they had sealed old layers of lead-based paint to prevent dangerous chipping. VASD exceeds expectations on State Report Card The Verona Area School District (VASD) once again exceeds expectations on the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction’s (DPI) annual report card released in November. According to a district news release, VASD earned a four-star (out of five) distinction based on data analyzed by the DPI. DPI reviews standardized test scores in reading and math, changes in test scores over time, graduation rates and other factors to come up with an overall score for each district in Wisconsin. Potential budget reduction plan outlined for BOE MONROE — The School District of Monroe Board of Education held its regular meeting on Nov. 24 at the Bauer Education Center. District officials presented a comprehensive overview of its Potential Budget Reduction Plan at the meeting. The presentation detailed the financial pressures facing the district, the significant reductions already made in recent years, and the additional cuts that will be required if the community does not approve an operational referendum planned for April 2026.
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