Wisconsin Education NewsOctober 3, 2025A daily update of education news and events that are taking place around Wisconsin. Federal Focus: Update on Federal Government Shutdown KMSD student wins first place in International Discovery Award Competition WALES — High School of Health Sciences (Kettle Moraine School District) student Emma Manion has once again earned national recognition — this time taking first place and a $3,000 prize in the 2025 Discovery Award competition, a global contest hosted by the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes. She also won the $2,000 Outstanding Middle School Prize in 2022. Powder prohibited: Baby powder banned from Hodag games after dust-up chafes fans It got a little dusty in the air last Friday night at Mike Webster Stadium — and that was more than just a handy excuse for any Hodag fans fighting back tears of joy after the Rhinelander High School football team defeated rival Antigo in the Bell Game for the first time in four years. Rhinelander High School Activities Director Brian Paulson issued a statement Monday announcing that baby powder will be prohibited in both home and visiting student sections moving forward at Rhinelander High School contests, after complaints were lodged over its use by both game officials and spectators. DeForest Chamber joins school district for Lunch and Learn DeForest-Windsor Chamber of Commerce members learned a little more about how the DeForest Area School district is using the funds from the 2024 referendum during a Lunch and Learn event Sept. 25 at the district office. The community approved a recurring $7.9 million operational referendum last November to achieve some of the goals, including supporting instruction and programming, maintaining facilities, technology, staff retention and safety, school board President Gail Lovick said as she welcomed the Chamber members. SDR building futures one trade at a time The School District of Rhinelander is stepping up in a big way in the future of the trades — and RVI is proud to be part of it! An article in the building trades magazine discusses the partnership with RVI in building our Habitat Houses. Reader question: How are school districts spending their money? Here's how to read a school budget For some people, October means Halloween. In education, though, it means budget season. Over the last few months, school districts have started to present proposed budgets for the 2025-26 school year. These budgets contain hints to the school districts' priorities for the coming year, plus what it's cutting back on. It's not everything — payments can be grouped pretty broadly — but it'll give you a place to start. We talked to business directors across multiple districts to get their best tips. Here's what to know to crack a budget. '1Fort Report': Fort Atkinson superintendent sharing school news via podcast FORT ATKINSON — Fort Atkinson School District news can now come to you via podcast. Superintendent Rob Abbott created the “1Fort Report” as a way to share information about the schools in the community. You can find a linke to Abbott’s new podcast on the school district’s website, at: www.fortschools.org/o/sdofa/page/1fort-report-podcast. Appleton Area School District holds community conversation on budget deficit, possible referendum APPLETON, Wis. (WBAY) - The Appleton Area School District (AASD) held a community conversation on Thursday night to address a $13 million budget deficit. It was also a chance to get feedback on a potential April referendum to cover operational expenses. The Appleton Area School District continues to seek funding options to avoid cutting staff in the future. Dozens of community members gathered Thursday night to provide input on how the district should move forward. Grant will bolster career education at Amery The $50,000 grant the School District of Amery received from T-Mobile will help make a long-range vision for the Career and Technical Education (CTE) program a reality. The School District of Amery has been recognized multiple times by the State of Wisconsin for its extensive CTE program, which prepares students for the workforce or further education. From apprenticeships to selling roasted coffee beans to growing crops, Amery students have the chance to explore various career options and gain some “real world” experience. School District of Beloit takes a step back in Forward Exams Beloit Turner School District was one of four public school districts in Rock County where students scored above state averages in all six tests of the Wisconsin Forward Exam. At the other end of the spectrum, the School District of Janesville and Brodhead only had students test above state average in one subject, while students at The Lincoln Academy and the School District of Beloit were below state averages in all subjects. Wisconsin school funding formula draws calls for action in Superior SUPERIOR — If she could fix one thing in her job as a state legislator, Rep. Angela Stroud, D-Ashland, would pick public school funding. “Because it touches us all,” Stroud, who represents Assembly District 73, said during a town hall meeting Wednesday, Sept. 24, at Superior Public Library. “It’s one of our biggest employers. Almost all of our kids go to public schools. And anyone who has a home or owns a property or lives in a home, everyone, basically, is impacted by how broken this is.” Federal judge dismisses Wisconsin school district’s ‘Rainbowland’ lawsuit A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by a former first grade teacher who was fired after publicly criticizing the School District of Waukesha for banning a Dolly Parton song. Melissa Tempel filed a lawsuit against the district in September 2023, claiming her First Amendment rights were violated when she was fired in July of that year. Appleton Area School District approves tickets for truancy APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The Appleton Common Council approved a new truancy ordinance by a 9-6 vote on Wednesday night. “We’re certainly optimistic that the decision tonight is going to mean that more kids are going to school,” said Appleton Area School District Superintendent Greg Hartjes. Rib Lake board approves changes for construction projects The referendum project connecting Rib Lake’s middle and high school buildings is proceeding on schedule and under budget. At the September 24 school board meeting, district administrator Travis Grubbs reported that the district is on schedule to have the fitness center portion of the project completed by the middle of October. “Our goal is to have it open to the public the week of the 27th of October,” Grubbs said. Community Update: GBPD Chief Chris Davis & GBAPS Superintendent Vicki Bayer on school safety GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) – Two leaders within the Green Bay community joined Local 5 in-studio for our Community Update: Green Bay Police Chief Chris Davis and Green Bay Area Public School District Superintendent Vicki Bayer. Both Davis and Bayer have been busy the last couple of weeks after an incident at Preble High School became a topic of discussion on school safety, which led authorities and school officials to put new security policies in place. Edgar board tours new renovations Members of the Edgar School Board toured a newly remodeled science room and stepped onto the recently refinished high school gym floor at their monthly meeting last Thursday. Rob Rauen, director of buildings and grounds, led the impromptu tour during a facilities update at the start of the Sept. 25 meeting, which included an overview of recently completed projects and reports on ongoing projects, including the district’s new outdoor classroom. That structure was paid for in part by a $10,000 grant from #SocialSchool4EDU. Adapted Sports league brings soccer joy to special needs students at Oak Creek High School Special needs students from Oak Creek High School and Sussex Hamilton got their moment to shine on the soccer field in front of a packed gymnasium during the first-ever Adapted Sports League Soccer game. The event brought together two school communities to celebrate inclusion and provide opportunities for students with special needs to experience competitive sports. Mental health services in Milwaukee Public Schools on the rise MILWAUKEE — Dr. Travis Pinter is the Senior Director of Specialized Services for Milwaukee Public Schools and says the need for mental health services has been on the rise for students in the district. Wisconsin rates high nationally for open enrollment transparency (The Center Square) – Wisconsin is the “gold standard of open enrollment reporting in the nation,” according to the author of a new report on how state’s compare in open enrollment policy. Wisconsin ranked 10th overall in Reason Foundation’s open enrollment rankings and Reason Senior Policy Analyst Jude Schwalbach praised the state’s cross-district enrollment policy that 60,000 students used in 2023-24 where students are not charged tuition. Wisconsin legislator: Schools must fulfill financial reporting before referendum (The Center Square) – A bill that would require Wisconsin school districts to confirm they have filed their required financial paperwork to the state before going to referendum was the subject of a public hearing in the Assembly Committee on Education on Thursday. The bill was aimed at districts such as Milwaukee that fail to fulfill their financial reporting obligations and then ask district residents for more funds through a referendum, according to sponsor Rep. Amanda Nedweski, R-Pleasant Prairie, who referred to Assembly Bill 457 as “my MPS bill.” Red Smith story trail takes literacy beyond the classroom GREEN BAY (NBC 26) — Outside Red Smith School, a story trail is promoting literacy, wellness and connection for learners of every age. Red Smith agriscience teacher Sarah Valentine dreamed up the project a year ago. A grant from the Green Bay Area Public Schools (GBAPS) Education Foundation made it possible. Each signpost along the half-mile wooded path tells one page of an interactive story.
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