The Conversation Continues
Follow for updates on school board meetings, facilities planning, and future referendum discussions.
Referendum Focus Groups
The school board has scheduled summer focus groups to listen and gather community feedback to help shape the next referendum. They need to hear from a variety of voices from the community so please participate to make your voice heard!
Focus Group Dates
June 16, 6-7:30pm
July 14, 6-7:30pm
Location: WFB Middle School Gym
RSVP preferred. Walk-ins welcome.
Recent School Board Meetings
June 17, 2026 - Main Takeaways
The board discussed and approved a community survey to gather additional feedback to help inform the next referendum questions. This survey is designed and run by The Donovan Group - the communications group hired last month. Survey will be open through the month of July. Survey can be taken here.
Two new focus groups were approved. One focused on neighbors who would be impacted with the location of a new middle school and the current middle school. A second group would focus on community members concerned about Armory Park and the Veteran’s Memorial. These focus groups will take place July 20th 6pm (Veteran’s memorial) and July 21st 6pm (MS Neighbors). They are also open to the public.
The HVAC business automation system experienced a server failure in late April, highlighting the risks of our school’s aging infrastructure. The system controls the HVAC parts at the High School, but also parts of Cumberland and Richards. The board discussed the trade-offs of doing nothing (worst case winter scenario means no control over heat in many HS classrooms) vs replacing partial parts (money/parts that will be replaced if/when a referendum is passed). This is a clear example of risk management that must be decided given the failed April referendum that would have provided a long term solution.
June 10, 2026 - Main Takeaways
The board agreed on the format for the focus groups. Short introduction, small tables to discuss specific questions, and formal follow-up combined with informal board conversation.
The three questions the board agreed on for the focus groups are as follows. There will be additional handouts for reference during the discussions. Every person will have 2 minutes for their initial response to each question.
Question 1: Please share why you voted the way that you did on the referendum question on April 7, 2026. If you did not vote, please share your perspectives.
Question 2: What stands out to you as the greatest needs and constraints across our facilities.
Question 3: Please share your thoughts on a tax impact that ranges from $90M to $125M.
The board reviewed current enrollment numbers at the elementary schools and is looking at options around low 4k and high fifth-grade numbers at Richards.
Referendum Fails by 302 Votes
THANK YOU to every person who voted YES, who shared our information, who talked to your neighbors, who helped us canvas, who hosted a yard sign, who donated for yard signs, who got in on the Facebook comments. This was a community effort in every sense.
Although the result wasn't what we'd hoped and is disappointing in many ways - it doesn't change our conviction that strong schools build strong communities. We're still committed. We'll still be here for the next vote to support our students, teachers and village. 300 votes is a gap we can close.
What Happens Now?
The Needs Remain
Whitefish Bay schools still need over $100M in facility updates. The school board will need to work on a plan that address the top priority middle school as well as the infrastructure needs of the elementary and high schools.
Likely Another Vote in November 2026
The school board has been convening to figure out a plan and process to get to hopefully get a new vote in November 2026. Please participate!
Note: School districts are able to ask up to 2 referendum questions a year. The costs will continue to eat into the operating budget until a referendum is passed. If no referendum is passed within 5 to 10 years, the district will need to start making cuts to staffing, compensation, and programs.
Why Use A Referendum?
Schools can’t just raise more money
Wisconsin school funding is set by the state. Each district has a revenue limit per student that cannot be exceeded without voter approval.
Whitefish Bay’s operating budget for 2025–26 is $35.5 million. The district can’t legally raise taxes without a referendum to fund large projects.
Most of the budget is used to pay for staff
About 80% of the operating budget goes to staff salaries and benefits ($28 million).
That leaves about $7 million to cover everything else, including:
• utilities
• technology and equipment
• special education services
• insurance
• routine maintenance
Capital projects are too large for annual budgets
In a good year, the district can save an extra $300K. This amount:
• cannot cover district-wide HVAC replacement ($30M+)
• cannot fund major roof replacements
• cannot pay for large additions or major renovations
School operating budgets are designed for annual expenses, not once-in-a-generation infrastructure upgrades. Referendums, by design, are the mechanism Wisconsin school districts use to fund large capital projects.
The last school facilities referendum in Whitefish Bay was approved in 2009 and funded building maintenance, safety improvements, and school additions.
Help Us for Round 2
We need all the help we can get to pass the next referendum.
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Who We Are
We are a group of engaged parents and community members who believe deeply in the value of strong public schools and the role they play in shaping our community’s future. Our mission is to provide clear, accurate information about the upcoming school capital referendum and why this investment matters for our students, neighbors, and village.
We believe that informed communities make the best decisions — and we’re proud to support a thoughtful, transparent plan for our schools’ future.
This effort is 100% community-driven. We are volunteers who care about safe, modern learning environments, responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars, and long-term planning that benefits both current and future generations. We know strong schools are essential for academic excellence and property values. Our goal is to help voters understand the needs behind the referendum, the solutions being proposed, and the impact this investment will have on our schools and community. Strong schools build strong communities.