Wisconsin school districts: 2016 in review and a 2017 election preview
January 31, 2017
By Ballotpedia's School Board Elections Project
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 District Report |
Wisconsin school board elections were a mixture of conflict and compromise in 2016, from issues of local control and school governance to the passage of 20 referenda. In the state's largest school district by enrollment—Milwaukee Public Schools—state and local officials became locked in a battle for control of the district. Two school districts saw the significant restructuring of either their school board or their school board election laws. Debates over the state's k-12 biennial budget and the expansion of the state voucher program continue into the 2017 election cycle. Additionally, several special elections to fill board vacancies and a number of referenda will appear before voters in the upcoming April elections.
Ballotpedia is covering 50 of Wisconsin's largest school districts holding elections on April 4, 2017. Across these 50 districts, 126 seats are up for election, and voters in three of these districts will decide on referendum questions for debt issuance and tax levies on their ballots. Wisconsin has a total of 464 public school districts. For more information about Wisconsin school board elections in 2017, please click here.
Issues across the state in 2016
Milwaukee leaders fight for local control
Milwaukee Public Schools
Wisconsin state lawmakers and Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) officials clashed over issues of school district governance and local control. In 2015, the state Assembly created the Opportunity Schools and Partnership Program (OSPP)—a program designed to improve the performance of schools failing to meet state expectations. During the same year, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction identified 55 Milwaukee schools that failed to meet state expectations, which represented 83.3 percent of all failing schools in the whole of Wisconsin.[1]
Through the OSPP, a new governance structure would be created for MPS. The failing schools would be run by a commissioner appointed by Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele. The commissioner would operate independently of the MPS school board and be free from local and state laws, except those dealing with health, safety, special education, and non-discrimination. The program also gave the commissioner the ability to convert any of the schools to private, non-religious voucher schools or independent charter schools.[2] Beginning in the 2015-2016 school year, the new commissioner would select up to three MPS schools to incorporate into the program. These schools would begin operating during the school year in 2016-2017.
The Milwaukee school district was the only district in the state affected by the proposal for the 2015-2016 school year, as it met the following three criteria: it had over 15,000 students, it received the lowest rating on the annual school report cards for two years in a row, and it received state aid to transport minority students within district boundaries. Only two other districts in the state—Madison Metropolitan and Racine Unified—had the possibility of qualifying due to student enrollment and receiving state transportation aid. Madison, however, received "meets expectations" ratings in 2013 and 2014, and Racine received "meets few expectations" ratings both years.[2]
Before the OSPP was passed into law, Milwaukee community members held a number of protests against the program, and Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Evers asked Gov. Scott Walker (R) to issue a veto. Evers criticized the removal of the Milwaukee school district's ability to close or reorganize its schools. Milwaukee would be the only school district in the state without that power.[3][4]
In October 2016, information released by Education Department Superintendent Evers showed that Milwaukee's schools no longer qualified for takeover by the OSPP. Evers said that due to changes in the way the state's report cards were calculated, no districts in the state met the qualifications for takeover for the 2016-2017 school year. The changes included emphasizing student improvement over proficiency as well as taking poverty levels, English language learners, and students with disabilities into account.[5] State Rep. Dale Kooyenga (R-14), a co-author of the law that set up the OSPP, said the OSPP acted as a good incentive for the district. He also said, "Rest assured, there will be more reforms."[5]
Election format change and increased board size
Racine Unified School District
Due to a state law passed in July 2015, the Racine Unified School District school board shifted from holding at-large elections to holding by-district elections in 2016. All nine board seats were up for election in 2016, with each seat located in a newly created geographic district. State Sen. Van Wanggaard (R-21) and state Assemblyman Tom Weatherston (R-62) wrote the legislation specifically for Racine, with language requiring by-district elections for cities with populations between 75,000 and 100,000 residents encompassing at least two villages. This legislation was written in the wake of an effort by nearby communities to break away from the district. State Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-63) argued that the bill would provide equal representation to all parts of the district. State Assemblyman Cory Mason (D-66) opposed the measure, which he referred to as "an assault on local control" that invalidated previous election results.[6]
In August 2015, school board members debated how to create board districts by the state's deadline of November 1, 2015. The committee submitted two maps to the board, and public review of the proposals began at a school board meeting held on October 5, 2015. The initial configuration had each board seat represent approximately 15,450 residents. All nine seats were slated for elections in 2016, though three seats were for one-year terms and another three seats were for two-year terms to facilitate staggered elections starting in 2017. Both maps included five seats for the city of Racine, with the villages of Caledonia and Mount Pleasant each representing a majority of the population for one seat. Each proposal had two board seats representing sections of the city where minority residents were a majority of the population. The city's chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) lobbied for three districts referred to as majority-minority districts.[7] During a special board meeting on October 27, 2015, the board voted 5-4 to approve the Proposal 5 map. Chuck Goodremote, Melvin Hargrove, Pamala Handrow, John Koetz, and Kim Plache voted for the map, while Dennis Wiser, Don Nielsen, Michael Frontier, and Julie McKenna voted for an alternate proposal.[8]
Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District
The Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District also made changes to how its board was governed in the 2016 spring election, but rather than responding to a directive from the state, the changes were advocated by a local community group. The group YES for Oak Creek Schools pushed for expanding the membership of the board from five members to seven. The decision was put to the community at the school district's annual meeting on August 24, 2015. Board members Mark Verhalen and Kathleen Borchardt, along with some members of the audience, voted against adding more members, but the majority voted to expand the board.[9]
YES for Oak Creek Schools was founded in 2014 as a referendum advocacy group and continued to advocate on other district issues after the referendum passed, including an expansion of the school board's size. The group had to gather at least 500 signatures and submit them to the board 30 days before the annual meeting in order to add an agenda item. On July 23, 2015, the group announced it had submitted 553 signatures.[10][11] Annual school board meetings in Wisconsin differ from regular school board meetings, as all residents attending the annual meeting are allowed to vote on the issues discussed. The Wisconsin Association of School Boards explains the process:
| “ | The annual school district meeting plays a special role in the governance of 377 of Wisconsin's 424 school districts. Electors in these districts — which are classified as either common school districts or union high school districts — have special powers reserved to them as a body at the annual meeting. State statutes (see Appendix A) set forth the basic requirements for holding the annual meeting and outline the powers of the electors at the annual meeting.
Electors are individuals who are eligible to vote in school district elections. As school officials are well aware, however, there is more to the annual meeting than the statutory requirements. Often described as grassroots democracy in action, the annual meeting provides district residents with an opportunity to critique the operation of the school district. It is also a good time for the school board and administrative staff to help the community focus on the achievements, needs and future of the district.[12] |
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| —Wisconsin Association of School Boards (May 2015)[13] | ||
YES for Oak Creek Schools argued that the board size should be increased in order to allow for more parent and community voices to be heard. The group also said that only one other district in Wisconsin's 50 largest districts by enrollment—the McFarland School District—had fewer than seven board members. The rest had seven or nine.[14]
Verhalen did not agree that the board should be expanded. He said he thought the board's business had been managed "fairly well." He also said, "I don't see any advantage to adding more people to the board at this time."[9]
Before the vote, YES for Oak Creek Schools described how the board would transition from five to seven members on its website:
| “ | If we are successful, the new positions would be added in April 2016, however, the terms of the new positions would be staggered. There would be four people elected in April 2016. The top two vote-getters would have the 3-year terms (those seats currently occupied by Frank Carini and Jon Jossart). The next top vote-getter would have a 2-year term (making him or her up for election with Kathleen Borchert's and Sheryl Cerniglia's positions in 2018), and the fourth highest vote-getter would have a 1-year term (making him or her up for election with Mark Verhalen's position in 2017). After that, all elections would be for three-year terms. Currently we have 2 - 1 - 2 up for election over a three-year period. By staggering the terms of the two additional positions, we would have 2 - 2 - 3. That way there is never a majority of the board up for election in any one year. This staggering of the new positions is required by the law.[12] | ” |
| —YES for Oak Creek Schools (2015)[14] | ||
In addition to increasing the size of the board, the proposal also sought to extend the district's existing stipend to the new board members. According to YES for Oak Creek Schools:
| “ | Of the 50 largest districts in Wisconsin, stipends range from $750 to $18,000 annually. A small number of districts pay $25 to $100 per meeting, and a few do not compensate school board members at all. Oak Creek-Franklin provides around $5,000 annually to each board member. We believe this cost is a minimal investment considering the larger benefit to the community.[12] | ” |
| —YES for Oak Creek Schools (2015)[14] | ||
School district funding and voucher programs
School district funding
After an initial budget proposal by Gov. Walker drew criticism from several local school leaders, lawmakers allocated an additional $200 million in public school district funding to the 2015-2016 budget.[15] The budget for 2015-2016 kept per-student funding flat for the school year. Although budget cuts were not made, some argued that the budget would not match inflation. [16] In November 2016, state schools Superintendent Tony Evers requested an additional $700 million in public school district funding between 2017-2019. The newest biennial budget is expected to be released in early 2017, and Walker commented that there will be a "significant increase" for k-12 schools.[17]
Voucher program expansion
The final Wisconsin budget expanded a state program to allow more students to attend private schools with publicly funded vouchers during the 2016-2017 school year. The budget removed a statewide cap of 1,000 students allowed to participate in the voucher program. Instead, the cap for the 2016-2017 school year was 1 percent of each school district’s total enrollment. This cap will continue to rise by 1 percent each year over the following 10 years until the 2025-2026 school year, when the cap is scheduled to be eliminated.[18] Wisconsin had 872,436 total students in the 2012-2013 school year, 1 percent of which would amount to a cap of 8,724 total students statewide allowed to participate in the voucher program.[19]
School Choice Wisconsin Vice President Terry Brown voiced support for the voucher expansion in June 2015, saying, "School districts need to learn how to compete and hold down their costs for taxpayers." Critics countered that the high cost of public schools could be attributed to programs, such as special education, which their competitors are not required to provide.[16]
Previously, the voucher program was paid for out of a separate state fund. Students who attended private schools with vouchers were counted as part of the public school district's total enrollment for the first time in 2015 and were funded from the district's budget. Because these students attended private schools, state aid was funneled directly to the voucher program instead of to the public school districts. This decreased the state aid given to most districts. According to the Fond du Lac Reporter, $16 million was directed away from public schools and toward voucher students statewide.[20] Under Wisconsin law, districts are permitted to increase property taxes to make up for the loss of funding. For instance, the Fond du Lac School District increased its tax levy by 11 cents per $1,000 of property value for a total projected revenue increase of $379,407.[21]
Referendum watch
There were 23 referenda on the ballot in 15 school districts within Ballotpedia's coverage area in 2016. Twenty of the 23 questions were approved by voters in these districts. The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction reported that 122 out of 155 total school district referenda were approved statewide in 2016. The referendum questions included 83 referenda to issue new debt and 71 referenda requesting spending in excess of state-mandated caps. One referendum question was reported by the department as having unknown results.[22] The following table lists details of questions in districts covered by Ballotpedia in 2016:
| Referendum questions | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| District | Cost | Reason | Voter decision |
| Chippewa Falls Area School District | $98 million | Facilities improvements | Rejected |
| Chippewa Falls Area School District | $61.2 million | Facilities improvements | Rejected |
| Eau Claire Area School District | $87.9 million | Operational funding | Approved |
| Franklin Public School District | $43.3 million | Facilities improvements | Approved |
| Germantown School District | $84 million | Facilities improvements | Approved |
| Hudson School District | $8.2 million | High school renovations and new athletic facility | Approved |
| Hudson School District | $7.9 million | Middle school additions, renovations, and upgrades | Approved |
| Hudson School District | $74.3 million | High school additions, renovations, and upgrades | Approved |
| Madison Metropolitan School District | $26 million | Operational funding | Approved |
| Marshfield School District | $12 million | Operational funding | Approved |
| McFarland School District | $1.1 million | Operational funding | Approved |
| McFarland School District | $232,000 | Operational funding and facilities improvements | Approved |
| Menomonee Falls School District | $3.75 million | Operational funding | Rejected |
| Menomonee Falls School District | $32.7 million | Facilities improvements | Approved |
| Mukwonago School District | $49.5 million | High school improvements | Approved |
| Mukwonago School District | Annual funding through 2037 | High school maintenance | Approved |
| Muskego-Norway School District | $42 million | Facility updates | Approved |
| Oconomowoc Area School District | $54.9 million | Facilities improvements | Approved |
| Oshkosh Area School District | $28 million | Operational funding | Approved |
| Sheboygan Area School District | $29 million | Facilities improvements | Approved |
| Sun Prairie Area School District | $2.8 million | Operational funding | Approved |
| Sun Prairie Area School District | $89.5 million | Facilities improvements | Approved |
| Superior School District | $92.5 million | Additions, renovations, and upgrades to facilities | Approved |
Elections analysis: 2014-2016
From 2014 to 2016, 64 percent of Wisconsin school board seats covered by Ballotpedia were won by incumbents. Incumbents fared the best in 2014, when 77 percent of seats in the coverage area were won by incumbents. This percentage dipped to 53 percent in 2015 before rebounding to 63 percent in 2016.
Unopposed school board elections in Wisconsin were less common in 2016 than in 2014 and 2015. A total of 21 percent of seats covered in 2016 were unopposed, compared to 29 percent in 2015 and 47 percent in 2014. The average number of candidates who filed for each seat remained consistent from 2014 through 2016. An average of 1.41 candidates filed for each seat up for election in 2016. This average was similar to the 1.43 candidates per seat in 2015 and the 1.40 candidates per seat in 2014.
2017 elections preview
- See also: Wisconsin school board elections, 2017
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Ballotpedia is covering the 50 largest school districts by enrollment in Wisconsin in 2017, and all 50 are holding school board elections. The general election will be held on April 4, 2017. Six districts will also hold a primary election on February 21, 2017, since more than two candidates filed for each seat on the ballot. A total of 126 seats are up for election. Together, these districts served 455,983 students during the 2014-2015 school year. To view the full list of districts holding elections, click [show] in the blue bar below. Click on the district name for more information on the district and its school board elections. Districts with asterisks (*) next to the number of seats up for election are holding special elections in conjunction with their general elections. The map on the right highlights Wisconsin's 50 largest school districts based on enrollment data from the 2014–2015 school year. Use the + and - buttons in the lower left corner to zoom in on the map. Clicking on a district will display its name and a link to its election coverage. |
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| 2017 Wisconsin School Board Elections | ||||||||
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| District | Primary election | General election | Runoff election | Regular term (years) | Seats up for election | Total board seats | Student enrollment | |
| Beloit School District | 2/21/2017 | 4/4/2017 | N/A | 3 | 3* | 7 | 7,133 | |
| Chippewa Falls Area School District | 2/21/2017 | 4/4/2017 | N/A | 3 | 2 | 7 | 5,515 | |
| D.C. Everest Area School District | 2/21/2017 | 4/4/2017 | N/A | 3 | 2 | 7 | 5,857 | |
| De Pere School District | 2/21/2017 | 4/4/2017 | N/A | 3 | 2 | 7 | 4,190 | |
| Eau Claire Area School District | 2/21/2017 | 4/4/2017 | N/A | 3 | 3 | 7 | 11,151 | |
| Elmbrook School District | 2/21/2017 | 4/4/2017 | N/A | 3 | 3 | 7 | 6,988 | |
| Fond du Lac School District | 2/21/2017 | 4/4/2017 | N/A | 3 | 2 | 7 | 7,444 | |
| Franklin Public School District | 2/21/2017 | 4/4/2017 | N/A | 3 | 2 | 7 | 4,396 | |
| Germantown School District | 2/21/2017 | 4/4/2017 | N/A | 3 | 2 | 7 | 3,931 | |
| Green Bay Area Public School District | 2/21/2017 | 4/4/2017 | N/A | 3 | 2 | 7 | 21,013 | |
| Hamilton School District | 2/21/2017 | 4/4/2017 | N/A | 3 | 2 | 7 | 4,720 | |
| Holmen School District | 2/21/2017 | 4/4/2017 | N/A | 3 | 3 | 7 | 3,959 | |
| Howard-Suamico School District | 2/21/2017 | 4/4/2017 | N/A | 3 | 2 | 7 | 5,996 | |
| Hudson School District | 2/21/2017 | 4/4/2017 | N/A | 3 | 2 | 7 | 5,492 | |
| Janesville School District | 2/21/2017 | 4/4/2017 | N/A | 3 | 3 | 9 | 10,408 | |
| Kaukauna Area School District | 2/21/2017 | 4/4/2017 | N/A | 3 | 2 | 7 | 3,893 | |
| Kenosha Unified School District | 2/21/2017 | 4/4/2017 | N/A | 3 | 2 | 7 | 22,439 | |
| Kettle Moraine School District | 2/21/2017 | 4/4/2017 | N/A | 3 | 2 | 7 | 4,057 | |
| Kimberly Area School District | 2/21/2017 | 4/4/2017 | N/A | 3 | 2 | 7 | 4,969 | |
| La Crosse School District | 2/21/2017 | 4/4/2017 | N/A | 3 | 3 | 9 | 6,814 | |
| Madison Metropolitan School District | 2/21/2017 | 4/4/2017 | N/A | 3 | 2 | 7 | 27,274 | |
| Manitowoc School District | 2/21/2017 | 4/4/2017 | N/A | 3 | 2 | 7 | 5,179 | |
| Marshfield School District | 2/21/2017 | 4/4/2017 | N/A | 3 | 2 | 7 | 4,051 | |
| McFarland School District | 2/21/2017 | 4/4/2017 | N/A | 3 | 2 | 5 | 4,304 | |
| Menomonee Falls School District | 2/21/2017 | 4/4/2017 | N/A | 3 | 2 | 7 | 4,098 | |
| Middleton-Cross Plains School District | 2/21/2017 | 4/4/2017 | N/A | 3 | 3 | 9 | 6,754 | |
| Milwaukee Public Schools | 2/21/2017 | 4/4/2017 | N/A | 4 | 4 | 9 | 77,316 | |
| Mukwonago School District | 2/21/2017 | 4/4/2017 | N/A | 3 | 3 | 9 | 4,673 | |
| Muskego-Norway School District | 2/21/2017 | 4/4/2017 | N/A | 3 | 2 | 7 | 4,840 | |
| Neenah Joint School District | 2/21/2017 | 4/4/2017 | N/A | 3 | 3 | 9 | 6,155 | |
| New Berlin School District | 2/21/2017 | 4/4/2017 | N/A | 3 | 2 | 7 | 4,528 | |
| Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District | 2/21/2017 | 4/4/2017 | N/A | 3 | 2 | 7 | 6,577 | |
| Oconomowoc Area School District | 2/21/2017 | 4/4/2017 | N/A | 3 | 2 | 7 | 5,264 | |
| Oregon School District | 2/21/2017 | 4/4/2017 | N/A | 3 | 3 | 7 | 3,828 | |
| Oshkosh Area School District | 2/21/2017 | 4/4/2017 | N/A | 3 | 2 | 7 | 9,872 | |
| Racine Unified School District | 2/21/2017 | 4/4/2017 | N/A | 3 | 3 | 9 | 19,819 | |
| Sheboygan Area School District | 2/21/2017 | 4/4/2017 | N/A | 3 | 4* | 9 | 10,248 | |
| Stevens Point Area Public School District | 2/21/2017 | 4/4/2017 | N/A | 3 | 4* | 9 | 7,262 | |
| Sun Prairie Area School District | 2/21/2017 | 4/4/2017 | N/A | 3 | 2 | 7 | 7,837 | |
| Superior School District | 2/21/2017 | 4/4/2017 | N/A | 3 | 2 | 7 | 4,680 | |
| Verona Area School District | 2/21/2017 | 4/4/2017 | N/A | 3 | 3* | 7 | 5,411 | |
| Watertown Unified School District | 2/21/2017 | 4/4/2017 | N/A | 3 | 3 | 9 | 3,876 | |
| Waunakee Community School District | 2/21/2017 | 4/4/2017 | N/A | 3 | 2 | 7 | 4,031 | |
| Wausau School District | 2/21/2017 | 4/4/2017 | N/A | 3 | 3 | 9 | 8,628 | |
| Waukesha School District | 2/21/2017 | 4/4/2017 | N/A | 3 | 3 | 9 | 13,494 | |
| Wauwatosa School District | 2/21/2017 | 4/4/2017 | N/A | 3 | 4 | 7 | 7,227 | |
| West Allis-West Milwaukee School District | 2/21/2017 | 4/4/2017 | N/A | 3 | 3 | 9 | 9,890 | |
| West Bend School District | 2/21/2017 | 4/4/2017 | N/A | 3 | 3 | 7 | 6,916 | |
| Wisconsin Rapids School District | 2/21/2017 | 4/4/2017 | N/A | 3 | 2 | 7 | 5,213 | |
Board vacancies
Board vacancies trigger special elections
Four board vacancies in Wisconsin's largest school districts required some additional seats to appear on the ballot in 2017.
Beloit member resigns after criminal investigation
In the Beloit School District, board member Shannon Scharmer stepped down from her position in September 2016. In her place, the Beloit Board of Education appointed Laurie Endres to serve a one-year term, which expires in April. The winner of the seat will serve a full three-year term.
Scharmer was the subject of an investigation for unethical and potentially illegal actions after she admitted falsified an email report in 2013. The email implied that fellow board member Nora Gard leaked information regarding former Superintendent Steve McNeal's refusal to allow a state representative to speak at district functions. Scharmer ultimately accepted responsibility for reporting falsified information and resigned from the board, agreeing not to run for the school board in the future.[23]
Appointee is unopposed in special election
Eau Claire Area School District board member Trish Cummins resigned from her position in August 2015. Jennifer Fager was elected on April 5, 2016, to serve for one year—the remainder of Cummins' term. When asked about her resignation, Cummins commented that she faced professional conflicts and was too busy to continue to serve on the board. Fager is unopposed in her bid for election to a full three-year term.[24]
Fourth seat up for special election in two districts
A special election for a one-year term will be held in conjunction with the regular election for three seats with three-year terms on the Sheboygan Area School District school board. The three candidates who receive the most votes will win the seats with the three-year term, while the fourth-place candidate will win the seat with the one-year term.
Peter Madden was appointed to fill a vacant seat on the Sheboygan school board in July 2016. Madden unsuccessfully ran for the school board in both 2012 and 2015. He is again running for election to the board in April.
In the Stevens Point Area School District, three seats are up for regular election to three-year terms, and one seat is up for special election for a one-year term. The three candidates who receive the most votes will win the seats with the three-year term, while the fourth-place candidate will win the seat with the one-year term. Amy Dailey was appointed to fill a board vacancy in 2016 and is running for election in April.
Referenda
2017 referendum efforts
| Bond elections |
|---|
| 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011 2010 • 2009 • 2008 All years and states |
| Property tax elections |
| 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011 2010 • 2009 • 2008 All years and states |
| See also |
| State comparisons How voting works Approval rates |
District referenda and tax levies will appear on the April ballot alongside school board elections in three of Wisconsin's largest districts on April 4, 2017. School boards in these districts are seeking funding for athletic facility upgrades, building expansions to accommodate larger enrollments, and safety improvements.[25]
April referenda
School District of Holmen
Voters in the School District of Holmen will see three debt issuance questions on their April ballots. The district is seeking a total of approximately $4 million:[25]
- $2.8 million for safety and security capital improvements to multiple school campuses
- $300,000 for improvements to high school athletic facilities
- $900,000 for high school site improvements, including parking and the development of two physical education/athletic fields
Howard-Suamico School District
Voters in the Howard-Suamico School District will see one referendum on the April ballot. The district is seeking to spend $4 million in excess of the state-imposed revenue cap.[25]
Verona Area School District
The Verona Area School District placed two debt issuance questions totaling $181 million on the April ballot. If passed, the funds would be used to construct athletic facilities, renovate school campuses, and upgrade infrastructure and equipment across the district. A third referendum requests the district be allowed to exceed spending above the state mandated revenue limit by $2.2 million.[25]
See also
| Wisconsin | School Boards | News and Analysis |
|---|---|---|
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Footnotes
- ↑ Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, "OSPP Talking Points," accessed January 27, 2017
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Education Week, "Milwaukee, other large school districts face takeover," May 21, 2015
- ↑ Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Wisconsin schools chief urges Scott Walker to veto education measures," July 9, 2015
- ↑ OnMilwaukee.com, "Abele set to take over struggling schools when Walker signs budget bill," July 9, 2015
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "No MPS schools eligible for takeover this year," October 12, 2016
- ↑ The Journal Times, "State legislature eyes changing Unified board, related to separation movement," May 20, 2015
- ↑ The Journal Times, "Proposals carve Racine Unified into nine voting areas," October 3, 2015
- ↑ Racine Unified School District, "Official Proceedings," October 27, 2015
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Oak Creek Now, "Oak Creek-Franklin School Board receives voter approval to add two more seats," August 24, 2015
- ↑ YES for Oak Creek Schools, "Home," accessed July 29, 2015
- ↑ Yes for Oak Creek Schools, "History," accessed February 6, 2016
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Wisconsin Association of School Boards, "The Annual School District Meeting," May 2015
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Yes for Oak Creek Schools, "Increased Board Size," accessed July 29, 2015
- ↑ Wisconsin State Journal, "In 2016, state Republicans in swing districts distance themselves from Scott Walker," October 16, 2016
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinel, "Suburban superintendents decry state budget for public education," June 4, 2015
- ↑ Wisconsin State Journal, "Wisconsin's budget picture gets $714 million brighter," January 19, 2017
- ↑ fdlreporter.com, "Taxpayers pay for area voucher students," November 20, 2015
- ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, "ELSI Table Generator," accessed April 16, 2015
- ↑ fdlreporter.com, "FDL schools lose funding through program," October 17, 2015
- ↑ Kenosha News, "Local schools capitalize on voucher program," October 28, 2015
- ↑ Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, "Custom Referenda/Resolution Reports," accessed January 27, 2017
- ↑ Beloit Daily News, "Scharmer Reaches Deal, Resigns from Board," accessed January 21, 2017
- ↑ WQOW, "Trish Cummins resigns from Eau Claire's school board," accessed January 26, 2017
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 25.3 Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, "Custom Referenda Reports," accessed January 23, 2017
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