Wisconsin Education NewsFebruary 20, 2026A daily update of education news and events that are taking place around Wisconsin. SDR board renews Burke’s contract Board hears update on $26M referendum construction project. Eric Burke has earned another two years at the helm of the School District of Rhinelander. The superintendent’s contract renewal, spanning July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2028, was approved by the SDR Board of Education at its regular monthly meeting on Monday, Feb. 16. Board clerk Mary Peterson and board treasurer Mike Roberts were absent. Proposed math curriculum for Madison schools has critics elsewhere The School Board plans to vote Monday on a new math curriculum for kindergarten through eighth grade after a task force concluded some of the district’s current instructional materials are “outdated.” School district administrators say the proposed curriculum from Arizona-based Illustrative Mathematics checked many of their boxes after a thorough selection process, and a nonprofit that reviews instructional materials gives it strong ratings. Fall Creek students explore job opportunities at career showcase FALL CREEK, Wis. (WEAU) - Students at the Fall Creek School District were exploring job opportunities Thursday. More than 300 middle schoolers and high schoolers learned about options after graduation at a career showcase. Brookwood second-quarter highlights: School has had proud moments over last few months The second quarter at Norwalk-Ontario-Wilton School District and Brookwood Junior and Senior High School was filled with meaningful learning experiences, student accomplishments, and exciting milestones across all grade levels. Lena schools seek $6M in operational referendum The Lena Public School District will be asking voters for approval when they go to the polls in April to continue to provide funding beyond state-mandated limits for operational expenses. The district is asking for $6 million for the next five years, with $1 million going toward the 2026-27 budget and increasing $100,000 each year until it gets to $1.4 million for the 2030-31 budget. According to Superintendent Ben Pytleski, the amounts would stabilize the district finances even as fixed costs continue to increase in all sectors as future state funding and enrollment numbers are expected to fluctuate. High school students in La Crosse stage walk-out demonstration to protest ICE LA CROSSE (WKBT) -- Groups of high school students in La Crosse walked out Thursday afternoon in a demonstration against Immigration and Customs Enforcement policies. Students from Logan High School made the trek to downtown La Crosse for their demonstration, while students from La Crosse Central staged their protest at the intersection of Losey Boulevard and State Road 33. Union Grove High School gets land through eminent domain, must pay $107k in attorney fees UNION GROVE, WI – A Racine County judge has ruled that Union Grove High School must pay a private property owner’s legal fees at the same time the school can claim the land for expansion through eminent domain. Daniel Riedel, who owns farmland surrounding Union Grove High School, was awarded $106,943.61 in attorney fees and legal costs on Feb. 13. Edison Middle School students stage second walkout in two days GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Students at Edison Middle School in Green Bay staged another anti-ICE walkout Thursday, one day after a walkout ended in damage to several area businesses. In a statement Thursday, the Green Bay Area Public School District estimated that about 20 students left class. Wausau students raise $11K for specialized safety devices for deaf and hard of hearing classmates WAUSAU, Wis. (WSAW) — Two Wausau School District students raised $11,100 to purchase specialized bed shaker devices for all deaf and hard-of-hearing students in their district. WUSD to distribute employee satisfaction surveys WATERTOWN — The Watertown Unified School District employs approximately 400 staff members, including administration, instructional and support staff. The District is interested in sending these individuals an employee satisfaction survey this spring. Green Bay launches first Trades Day for students across all six high schools GREEN BAY (WLUK) -- All Green Bay high school students will have the opportunity to explore careers in the skilled trades at a new event taking place Wednesday afternoon. The Green Bay Area Public School District along with the city of Green Bay, the Northeast Wisconsin Construction Alliance, and the Northeast Wisconsin Youth Apprenticeship are hosting the first ever Trades Day in the Southwest High School gymnasium. Stevens Point students receive free books through yearly literacy drive STEVENS POINT, Wis. (WSAW) - Over 1,000 books were distributed to elementary school students in Stevens Point last week as part of the district’s yearly “Books from the Heart” drive. The program, which has been running for over 20 years, aims to foster a love of reading among kindergarten through second-grade students by ensuring all students have access to books they can call their own. Native prairie project at Sun Prairie East gets boost from Dane County's Ripple Effects It’ll be a few years before agriculture and science students at Sun Prairie East High School see the fruit of their labor. Knowing that, they’re still working to turn several acres of nearby farmland into a native prairie that will become a living laboratory for those coming up behind them, as well as the whole community. Although it started in 2023-24, when Joshua Capodarco started teaching at East, the project is still in the beginning stages. Chilton High School looks at adding boys soccer Members of the Chilton Soccer Club attended an early morning Chilton School District Co-Curricular Committee meeting in the past week with committee members Terry Criter and Jerry Kolbe to request the committee’s consideration of creating a boys soccer program at Chilton High School. District Superintendent Sue Kaphingst and Activities Director Corey Behnke were also present at the meeting. MPS Shares Initial Base Wage Proposals as Budget Planning Continues (MILWAUKEE) — Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) Superintendent Brenda Cassellius on Thursday presented the district’s initial base wage proposals as negotiations begin for the next collective bargaining agreement with members of the Milwaukee Teachers’ Education Association (MTEA) and the Psychologists Association of the Milwaukee Public Schools (PAMPS). Milwaukee Public Schools is challenging a proposed conference realignment that would move Reagan High School from the City Conference to the Southeast Conference, creating new obstacles for student-athletes and their families. Under the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association proposal, Reagan would compete against schools in Racine and Kenosha instead of staying in Milwaukee's City Conference. The change would mean longer travel times and later nights for student-athletes. ‘STEM Possible Fest’ at Fox Valley Technical College showcases technical skills to middle schoolers APPLETON, Wis. (WBAY) - On Thursday, Fox Valley Technical College turned into an extravaganza for 6th and 7th-graders to learn more about possibilities and careers within STEM. Middle schoolers — getting out of the classroom and into a world of possibility. Event leaders say it exposes students to opportunities they’ve never experienced or considered before. Wisconsin sets apprenticeship record for fourth year in a row For the fourth year in a row, Wisconsin’s century-old registered apprenticeship program set a new participation record. There were more than 18,000 apprentices in the program with more than 3,000 employers in 2025, according to the state Department of Workforce Development. Gov. Tony Evers announced the record-high enrollment during his State of the State address this week. Republicans send ‘400-year veto’ constitutional amendment to voters Wisconsin voters will be asked whether the state’s constitution should be amended to prevent the governor’s powerful partial veto from increasing taxes or fees under a measure that cleared the state Assembly Thursday. It’s a direct response to a partial veto from Democratic Gov. Tony Evers’ in 2023 authorizing school districts to raise property taxes to bolster their budgets through the year 2425. Public schools are shrinking across Wisconsin. Here is why GREEN BAY (NBC 26) — Schools across Northeast Wisconsin planned for growth for decades. Now, many districts are planning for the opposite. In Green Bay, some classrooms are getting quieter. Green Bay Area Public Schools has lost more than 1,200 students in the past three years, and leaders say the decline is continuing.
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