Like most Wisconsin school districts, we struggle to balance our budget due to an inadequate state education funding system, a lack of state aid to public schools, and rising expenses.

A combination of state aid and local property taxes is the primary source of revenue for Wisconsin school districts. We are also subject to a revenue limit, which was first imposed by the state in 1993. For decades, the revenue limit for districts like ours has failed to keep pace with inflation.

If revenues had matched the inflation rate since 2009, we would receive $3,500 more per student each year.

I-S is among the approximately 74% of school districts statewide that have experienced enrollment declines in the past 15 years, which negatively affects our funding. At the same time, expenses have continued to rise for employee wages and benefits, utilities, transportation, food service, maintenance, property and liability insurance, and more.

In 2025-26, the state also directed $357.5 million from general public school aid for private school vouchers. More than 70% of public school districts saw a reduction in their school aid as a result.

The district has been proactive in managing expenses in response to enrollment changes. Since our first operational referendum was approved in 2016, we have reduced regular education staff through attrition—not filling positions when staff retire or resign—and we continue to use this approach.

We have also consolidated administrative roles following the elimination of our district-owned bus fleet and the retirement of our transportation director. To further reduce costs, we have partnered with CESA 5 for shared services and collaborate with RVA for certain student services.

Additionally, all staff have accepted increases in health insurance deductibles in recent years to help control healthcare costs for the district. We remain committed to operating as efficiently as possible while maintaining quality educational programming for our students.

On Tuesday, April 7, 2026, our community will vote on a non-recurring operational referendum question for the Iola-Scandinavia School District. If a simple majority of voters approves the proposal, we will have the ability to exceed the district’s state-imposed revenue limit by $1.6 million during the 2026-27 school year, and then by $2 million annually through 2029-30.

We would use these funds to continue providing the high-quality educational experience and services our community and families expect.

No. I-S has relied on operational referendum funds for the past decade. Our first measure was approved in 2016 and renewed by voters in 2020. It will sunset at the conclusion of the current school year if not renewed this April.

The school board and administration will be forced to consider eliminating some programs and services for students, reducing staff, increasing class sizes, limiting or eliminating some extracurricular activities, and delaying maintenance, among other potential cuts.

An operational referendum is the only option to prevent significant cuts to programming and opportunities for students.

If approved by voters on April 7, the referendum will be extended through June 2030.

An approved referendum would have an estimated average annual school district property tax increase of $41 for every $100,000 of property value. This would equate to an average increase of approximately $102 per year above the current tax rate for a property valued at $250,000.

The total school district levy rate, which determines the school portion of local property taxes, fell 28.5% from 2019-20 to 2024-25 (from $11.05 per $1,000 of fair market value to $7.78).

More than 80% of districts have held an operational referendum in the past 15 years. More than half of the school districts in Wisconsin have received approval from voters through successful operational referendums to exceed revenue limits in the past decade.

Election day is Tuesday, April 7, 2026. The polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. More information is available at https://myvote.wi.gov/en-us.

District residents can find their polling location for Tuesday, April 7, by searching with their home address.

Yes, voters may request that an absentee ballot be mailed to them for any reason. However, you must be registered before you can request an absentee ballot.

If you are registered, you can request an absentee ballot by visiting https://myvote.wi.gov/en-us/VoteAbsentee. Note that you must provide a photo ID with your absentee ballot request.

Eligible voters can register up to election day, and can even register at the polls.

The deadline to register by mail or online is March 18, 2026. If you miss this deadline, you can still register in person at your municipal clerk’s office until 5:00 p.m. on April 3, 2026, or at your polling place on Election Day.

To learn more about registering to vote, visit https://myvote.wi.gov/register-To-Vote.

Voters will see the following question on their ballots on Tuesday, April 7:

Shall the School District of Iola-Scandinavia, Waupaca and Portage Counties, Wisconsin be authorized to exceed the revenue limit specified in Section 121.91, Wisconsin Statutes, by $1,600,000 for the 2026-2027 school year, and by $2,000,000 per year for three years, beginning with the 2027-2028 school year and ending with the 2029-2030 school year, for non-recurring purposes consisting of sustaining educational programming, student opportunities and operations?