More than 90% of WEAC-Backed Referenda Pass
Twenty-nine of the 32 school referendum questions recommended by WEAC locals passed on Election Day, November 5, a success rate of more than 90 percent.
Two of the largest school referendums passed, the Madison Metropolitan School District ($507 million capital & $100 million for staff raises & operating costs) and the Kaukauna Area School District ($198 million). Also among the biggest asks, one of two Arrowhead Union High School questions passed.
Almost half of Wisconsin’s 421 school districts have been forced to ask voters to increase local funding this year alone, to make up for costs the state won’t cover.
“Wisconsin Public School Educators show up every day for our students against all odds. It’s time for our state legislators to do the same,” said WEAC President Peggy Wirtz-Olsen. “There were three times more school referendums this year than last, as lawmakers in power refused to release even a portion of a nearly $5 billion state surplus.”
In Dane County, Waunakee, McFarland, DeForest, Evansville, Marshall and Mount Horeb ran successful referendums, most of which are geared to prevent staff cuts and program reductions.
“Our message to newly elected lawmakers on both sides of the aisle who are begin their terms is that educators are watching, but we’re not waiting. They can expect to see public school educators everywhere they go, in the Capitol and back home, demanding a better state budget for our students.”
Statewide, including the 32 referenda WEAC locals worked on, school districts went to the polls to vote on 138 referendum questions in 121 districts. Of those 108 passed, a success rate of about 78 percent.
WEAC/Local-Backed Referendum Results
| Wisconsin School District Referendum Questions | Category | Election Results (Nov 5) | YES % | No % |
| Arrowhead High School: Vote YES | New HS Operational |
Failed Passed |
41.5 50.8 |
58.5 49.2 |
| Ashwaubenon: Vote YES | Passed | 64.9 | 35.1 | |
| Beaver Dam: Vote YES | Passed | 52.7 | 47.3 | |
| Cudahy: Vote YES | Bldg Operational |
Passed Passed |
62.9 59.7 |
37.1 40.3 |
| De Pere: Vote YES | Passed | 66.3 | 33.7 | |
| Deforest: Vote YES | Passed | 56.1 | 43.9 | |
| Eau Claire: Vote YES | Passed | 64.2 | 35.8 | |
| Evansville: Vote YES | Passed | |||
| Glendale-River Hills: Vote YES | Passed | 60.5 | 39.5 | |
| Green Bay: Vote YES | Passed | 66 | 34 | |
| Janesville: Vote YES | Bldg Operational |
Passed Passed |
63.62 60.93 |
36.38 39.07 |
| Jefferson: Vote YES | Passed | 55.2 | 44.8 | |
| Kaukauna: Vote YES | Passed | 63.4 | 36.6 | |
| Madison: Vote YES | Bldg Operational |
Passed Passed |
71.5 69 |
|
| Markesan: Vote YES | Passed | 62.4 | 37.6 | |
| Marshall: Vote YES | Passed | 56.7 | 43.3 | |
| Marshfield: Vote YES | Passed | 50.7 | 49.3 | |
| Milton: Vote YES | Passed | |||
| Monroe: Vote YES | Failed | |||
| Mosinee: Vote YES | Passed | 64.6 | 35.4 | |
| Mount Horeb: Vote YES | Passed | |||
| Raymond School: Vote YES | Failed | 39 | 61 | |
| Sheboygan: Vote YES | Passed | 65.4 | 34.6 | |
| Sun Prairie: Vote YES | Passed | 57.2 | 42.8 | |
| Wauwatosa: Vote YES | Bldg Operational |
Passed Passed |
58.4 57 |
41.6 43 |
| West Allis-West Milwaukee: Vote YES | Bldg Operational |
Passed Passed |
64.5 60.6 |
35.5 39.4 |
