Wisconsin Education NewsDecember 12, 2025A daily update of education news and events that are taking place around Wisconsin. Register Today for Impactful Coaching Academy In this professional learning opportunity, participants will further develop the capacity to provide coaching and feedback that is aligned to high expectations, standards, and research-based effective instructional practices. Cohort 2 begins in January. MMSD property tax hike: What you can do about it and what realtors, districts want you to know MADISON, Wis. — Property tax bills in Madison and Fitchburg are higher this year after voters approved two referendums for the Madison Metropolitan School District in 2024. The increase has caused some sticker shock — but is there anything homeowners can do now? “So in terms of an increase compared to prior year, this year is the high year. But it was planned,” said Bob Soldner, MMSD’s assistant superintendent of financial services. Soldner said voters were given a clear understanding of what the estimated taxes would be this year. Wisconsin school pool safety largely left to districts, with little state oversight State law requires school pools – like other entities with pools – to be licensed to operate. As of November, over a hundred schools or school districts in Wisconsin held licenses for pools, according to records from the state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. Typically, schools work with either their district or the local health department to get licensed, said Molly Mueller of the DATCP. The licenses must be renewed yearly. License holders are required to maintain the poolt, including safety equipment, according to the DATCP's code. In Wisconsin, all pools used for water instruction are required to have at least one lifeguard supervising. If an instructor holds a lifeguarding certification, the instructor can fulfill this requirement. SDR offers facility project update and sponsorship opportunity The School District of Rhinelander is pleased to announce significant progress on the High School Facility Project, which is quickly approaching the 50% completion mark. This multi-phase project represents a major investment in the future of technical education for Rhinelander students and the broader community. Green Bay public schools expect another $2 million gap due to lower special ed funding GREEN BAY (WLUK) -- Wisconsin school districts are bracing for less help from the state with funding special education. In some districts, it means millions of dollars below what they were anticipating. Already needing to close a $3 million funding gap this year, the Green Bay Area Public School District is anticipating it will now be down an additional $2 million. “This was a surprise to us,” said Superintendent Vicki Bayer. Gold Star grants to La Crosse schools are welcome holiday gifts to aid educational projects Nearly two dozen classroom projects in the La Crosse School District are getting financial grants from a local foundation. The Gold Star grants for this fall total $51,000, and are awarded by the La Crosse Public Education Foundation. Homeless students, families have few options BELOIT — When the temperatures plummet and the snow begins to fall, Robin Stuht’s worries about the people she talks to on almost a daily basis take a more urgent turn. “When the temperatures are dropping to zero at night and I know we have students sleeping in cars or in tents, I can’t help but think about that,” Stuht said from a classroom at the Beloit Learning Academy. “We talk a lot about numbers and people forget that these numbers are people who are just trying to find someplace warm for the night. Stuht is in her 20th year as the homeless liaison and family specialist for the School District of Beloit. Unfortunately, after two decades of tireless advocacy for poor families in the district, which is mostly made up of City of Beloit residents, the problem of student homelessness is only getting worse. MADISON, Wis. (WKBT) -- A new Wisconsin law requires all public, private, and charter schools to notify parents the same day a sexual offense is reported—or by noon the following day if the report comes in after hours. Until now, state law did not set a specific deadline for when schools needed to contact families about such incidents. Lawmakers and advocates say the change is designed to ensure parents learn of serious reports as soon as possible and can quickly find support for their children. Erin Collins, a crime victim specialist at Gundersen Health System, said the law addresses a gap in family communication. North Side Elementary to promote social-emotional learning with Gold Star Grant LA CROSSE, Wis. (WXOW) – The La Crosse Public Education Foundation (LPEF) is making waves by awarding more than $51,000 in funding through 22 different grants to School District of La Crosse schools. Among the recipients are three teachers at North Side Elementary who were surprised with grants for their classrooms. Manitowoc to close 2 elementary schools as part of restructuring plan MANITOWOC, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The Manitowoc Public School District will close Jackson and Madison Elementary Schools as part of a major restructuring plan. This restructuring will save the district a one-time amount of $6.6 million from current building projects for the two schools, plus about $2 million per year from staff cuts. The district plans to lay off 12 teachers and 32 support staff as part of the restructuring. The Marshfield School Board approved a resolution to request an exemption for the start of the next school year. Due to the District’s referendum work, the Board approved a resolution to request an exemption from the Department of Public Instruction to begin the 2026-2027 school year prior to September 1, 2026, specifically on Thursday, August 27, 2026. The Board also approved a budget amendment. This budget amendment involves no change in total revenue or expenditure. The reclassification of these accounts is to comply with the Wisconsin Uniform Financial Accounting Requirements (WUFAR). Oshkosh superintendent addresses plan to cut about 70 jobs; dozens speak out in opposition OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The Oshkosh Area School District is recommending about 70 positions be eliminated to close a $6 million annual budget deficit. Superintendent Bryan Davis addressed the proposed cuts for the first time Wednesday night following a public listening session and the first board discussion — which combined to last about five hours. Over 40 people spoke out against the cuts. Holiday magic brings joy to Milwaukee's Kagel Elementary School MILWAUKEE — Kagel Elementary School in Milwaukee was filled with holiday magic as Santa, Mrs. Claus, the Grinch, and Milwaukee Fire Chief Aaron Lipski made surprise deliveries to students and teachers. "What we're really doing here today is just barging into these classrooms and surprising the children and the teachers with gifts. They had no idea we were coming," Lipski said. The Milwaukee Fire Department and Milwaukee Public Schools partnered with the Daisie Foundation, which serves women and children in underserved communities in Milwaukee, Chicago and Houston.
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