FOND DU LAC COUNTY – Many area students going back to school this year may notice various changes in their districts.
Before last school year ended, referendums in four districts asked voters to authorize exceeding the revenue limit for the next few school years.
Waupun Area School District’s referendum passed, exceeding the revenue limit for the next three school years to fund maintenance and other expenses.
However, respective voters turned down referendums in the Fond du Lac, North Fond du Lac and Oakfield School Districts.
Here’s what the school year will look like for these districts.
Waupun Area School District continues infrastructure improvements
Waupun Area School District schools start classes this week, and District Administrator Steven Hill said district staff and the board of education are thrilled to welcome back students.
The successful referendum showed the community’s support for local public education, recognizing the district’s budget management and the fact the request was less money than the previous referendum, Hill said.
“This trust means everything to us as we continue to serve our families,” he said.
Immediate changes students will notice as they head to school include new ViewSonic interactive boards in all classrooms, keeping up with modern tools that boost student engagement, as well as new parking lots at Waupun Junior/Senior High School and the Educational Service Center.
“These parking lots were in such need of repair that without this work, our snowplow service companies indicated they would not continue providing service due to serious potholes and concerns for their equipment damage,” Hill said.
Another infrastructure improvement that can continue is the roofing projects, which is important for maintaining the updated facilities.
The district is also able to maintain the small class sizes and secure salary increases to keep pace with nearby districts, ensuring the district can not only keep and attract its educators but also help them personalize student learning.
The referendum also allowed the district to fulfill a popular student request with the addition of Family and Consumer Science courses.
Fond du Lac School District cuts staff, changes schedule
The Fond du Lac School District Board of Educators decided in April how it would navigate the $7.5 million operational deficit for this school year.
Among five total measures, two involved changing the school schedule. Middle school students will have a six-period school day, with teachers working five classes instead of three — this increases their teaching responsibilities and reduces their preparation time. Fond du Lac High School will keep its eight class periods, but teachers will teach six of those periods rather than five.
The district also reduced the “cash in lieu” staff benefit and scaled back or eliminated several contracted services. Then-district Superintendent Jeffrey Fleig warned this would have a negative impact on student learning and culture.
As far as staff cuts, the district eliminated 53 teaching positions; 12 custodial and maintenance positions; 15 secretary, instructional assistant and interpreter positions; two administrative positions; and one specialized position.
Many affected employees could move elsewhere in the district into open positions and areas that are otherwise hard to fill, depending on their specialties and certification. However, a total of 27 employees were laid off.
Most recently, the district partnered with Marian University for eligible high school students to earn both high school and college credit for the same course during the regular school day. This aims to help manage instructional costs and strengthen the district’s commitment to rigorous learning experiences, joining the Cooperative College Access Program with University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and the dual-enrollment partnership with Moraine Park Technical College as options for students to get a head start on higher education.
North Fond du Lac School District is optimistic after cuts and support
Facing an almost $2 million budget shortfall, the North Fond du Lac School District also made a number of adjustments for the school year.
Superintendent Matthew Mineau said these reductions were difficult to make, but necessary to ensure the schools could continue operating within their means. The schools will continue to make the most of their resources to provide students with meaningful relationships and high achievement, making the district somewhere they want to be.
“While our resources are more limited, our commitment to our students has not wavered,” he said.
For staff, the district eliminated 16 positions, reduced raises and adjusted the insurance plan design. Families faced a 100% increase in school, class and athletic fees. Additionally, Exploration Charter School closed, and 4K bus routes were cut.
Before the election, the district communicated what would happen if the referendum didn’t pass, and also addressed the uncertainty around the state budget: since it wouldn’t be finalized until three months after the referendum, it was difficult to know exactly what resources would be available moving forward, Mineau said.
Over the summer, the approvals on the budget include increasing special education reimbursement from 30% to 42% this year and rising to 45% next year; growing the open enrollment tuition amount; and continuing the $325 per-pupil annual increase. Mineau said these changes, together with the previous reductions, give the district more stable footing for this school year.
“As a district, we recognize our responsibility to meet each student where they are and provide the support they need to grow academically, socially and emotionally,” Mineau said. “That responsibility does not change with the outcome of a referendum or the uncertainty of a state budget.”
School District of Oakfield scales back staff development
In the May 2025 newsletter, School District of Oakfield Administrator Sarah Poquette shared her reflection on both the outgoing school year and this coming year, which starts Sept. 2.
The district is preparing for a new operational referendum next spring, and reducing expenses in the meantime. Poquette said every expense in the business office is carefully reviewed to ensure it is essential.
Registration and course fees increased, and fees for Cooperative College Access Program and Advanced Placement classes are now the families’ responsibility.
Changes for staff include eliminating paid professional development and coaching in math and literacy, discontinuing staff attendance at curriculum and professional learning conferences, eliminating paid services from CESA for teacher coaching, and changing the health insurance provider.
Additionally, bus routes were reduced and sports funding for the middle school moved from the general Fund 10 to Fund 80. The School Perceptions Survey for students, staff and families was also discontinued.
“We remain committed to being responsible stewards of public resources while continuing to provide a high-quality education for every student,” Poquette said. “The 2025-26 school year will bring challenges but I have faith our staff and community will continue to work together to support our students.”
Daphne Lemke is the Streetwise reporter for the Fond du Lac Reporter. Contact her at dlemke@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Fond du Lac Reporter: Staff cuts, infrastructure improvements: What to expect at 4 Fond du Lac-area districts after spring referendums
Reporting by Daphne Lemke, Fond du Lac Reporter / Fond du Lac Reporter
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