Wisconsin Education NewsOctober 28, 2025A daily update of education news and events that are taking place around Wisconsin. November is Military Appreciation Month and Veterans Day Thank you to the school district and community members who recognize the commitment required by military members and their families, including their children. The children and their families encounter numerous unique challenges, such as frequent moves and lengthy separations. At this time, due to the Federal Government shut down, many folks affiliated with the military (& other Federally funded agencies) are experiencing financial difficulties. We have an opportunity to demonstrate our understanding and support of our community members. School Board approves 2025-26 budget CEDARBURG — The mill rate for the 2025-26 Cedarburg School District budget will be $6.25 per 1,000 of equalized property value, a 25-cent decrease from last year’s rate, with a tax levy of $27,803,483. Director of Business Services Kim Zabel told the Cedarburg School Board last week that the tax levy rate for the school district has either remained flat or decreased over the last 10 years. The statewide average for tax levy rate in 2024-25 was $7.09. Elmbrook Film Festival inspires student filmmakers in 5th year BROOKFIELD — The Elmbrook School District is celebrating its fifth year of the Elmbrook 3-Minute Film Festival, which gives students across all grade levels an outlet to tell their own stories on screen. The festival was the brainchild of Daniel Pronley, drama and musical theater director and film festival coordinator for the district. Green Bay Area School District approves $314 million budget with $3.5 million deficit GREEN BAY (NBC26) — The Green Bay Area School District unanimously approved a nearly $314 million budget Monday night, marking the first time the district has entered a deficit — approximately $3.5 million. (BEAVER DAM) Area school districts now know what they will be getting for state aid. The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction has released its school aid amounts for the 2025-2026 academic year. Aid varies widely by district based on student counts and year-end financial data. Around 26-percent of districts will get more aid while 71-percent will see less money. The Beaver Dam School District is getting $24.3-million, $837-thousand dollars less than last year. Budget, bell schedule dominates discussion at GBAPS board meeting GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) – Green Bay’s Board of Education approved the district’s 2025-2026 budget, which does include a $3.5 million deficit. District officials said several factors have contributed to the deficit, including declining enrollment (funding is based on the number of students a district has) and state and federal funding not keeping pace with inflation. Black River Falls school district considers going to operating referendum BLACK RIVER FALLS, Wis. (WKBT) -- The Black River Falls school district is considering whether to ask voters to approve a future operating referendum. School district officials hosted community members Monday night for the district's annual meeting and budget hearing. Part of the meeting was to gauge initial thoughts on going to an operating referendum, something the district has not done in over 30 years. Wausau School Board Sets 2026 Budget WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — Wausau residents will see a drop in the school district mill rate for 2026. Board members voted to adopt the 2026 budget on Monday, which was largely unchanged from the version presented at the annual meeting in September. Though Assistant Superintendent for Operations Josh Viegut says there was one key change. NEW NORTH, Wis. (Oct. 27, 2025) – This is a big week for celebrating October is Manufacturing Month in northeast Wisconsin. On Tuesday, October 28th is the NEW Manufacturing Alliance’s 14th annual Excellence in Mfg./K-12 Partnerships Awards at the Resch Expo from 6:15 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. The Awards are given to manufacturers and educators that are working together to help youth explore manufacturing careers. Giant eyeballs, cardboard guitars: Inside Madison school’s Halloween club A few minutes after the day’s last bell rang at O’Keeffe Middle School on a recent afternoon, students started trickling into Shelley Cornia’s class. Cornia, the school’s tech and engineering teacher, spread out a tangle of hot glue guns, colorful yarn spools and plastic spiders on a table. As students encircled her, Cornia cobbled together a spider web made out of popsicle sticks. Teacher in Madison wins $1,000 surprise award from former student teacher MADISON (WKOW) -- One teacher got a big surprise from her former student teacher at Akira Toki Middle School on Monday. Marguerite Fairchild-Gongora won a $1,000 award as a part of the College Football Playoff's Foundation Extra Yard for Teachers Initiative, presented by Wisconsin Athletics and the Badger Give Back Program. MPS to launch new van service to help homeless students get to school Starting this fall, Milwaukee Public Schools will offer a new van service to help homeless students get to and from school. District officials said the $1.1 million pilot program is meant to improve access, cut costs and serve as a model for future transportation efforts. The district is leasing a fleet of 20 hybrid minivans, each of which can transport four students at a time. David Fifarek, senior director of transportation services for MPS, said the program allows the district to serve homeless and displaced students who are living in temporary places farther away or outside of typical school bus routes. Trump administration must restore grants for school counselors, judge rules The Trump administration must release millions of dollars in grants meant to address the shortage of mental health workers in schools, a federal judge ruled Monday. Congress funded the mental health program after the 2022 school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. The grants were intended to help schools hire more counselors, psychologists and social workers, with a focus on rural and underserved areas of the country. But President Donald Trump's administration opposed diversity considerations used to award the grants and told recipients they wouldn't receive funding past December 2025. Jefferson Middle School students benefit from STEM residency JEFFERSON — Students at Jefferson Middle School have been getting a unique hands-on learning experience in their classroom this school year through a Gearbox Labs residency made possible by the Generac Foundation. An expert from Gearbox, a nonprofit organization, has been teaching an introduction to engineering, electronics, and coding to students in Scott Slotten’s Technology Education classroom, and an introduction to 3D Design and printing with students in Beth Walther’s Art classroom. Through this hands-on program, students are exposed to current approaches to critical thinking, and they get a taste of technology, such as electronics not currently offered in the school. Eyes on Education campaign aims to provide free eye exams and glasses Did you know that some of our students are struggling in school because of untreated vision issues? Sheboygan Area School District School Nurses are taking action by launching a fund to help students whose families cannot afford eye exams and glasses.
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