November 2025 District Newsletter

Greetings Whitefish Bay Families,

As you know, the School District of Whitefish Bay is engaged in a Facilities Long Range Planning process. Whitefish Bay School District has a strong tradition of excellence; we are proud to be among the highest achieving districts in Wisconsin. While we address routine maintenance each year, all five buildings (built between 1918 and 1955) are aging. Building systems (such as HVAC, plumbing, and electrical) have exceeded their service life, and classrooms/support areas do not meet today’s standards, including accessibility challenges.

Facilities Survey

All Whitefish Bay households should be receiving a Facilities Survey in the mail this week, if you have not received it already. Please take the time to thoughtfully complete the survey before November 20th and provide your insight into the potential facilities projects.

The video included above provides additional context and outlines the District’s needs to improve upon safety, security, and accessibility across our buildings.

Community Presentations

To learn even more about potential projects, we would like to invite you to attend an upcoming Community Presentation. The same information will be shared at each presentation, so you are welcome to pick the one that works best for you.

• Monday, November 10 at 6:00 - 6:45 pm in the Richards Great Hall

• Tuesday, November 11 at 6:00 - 6:45 pm in the Middle School Gym

• Thursday, November 13 at 1:00 - 1:45 pm in Lydell School & Community Center Room 17

• Monday, November 17 at 6:00 - 6:45 pm in the High School Library Media Center

• Tuesday, November 18 at 6:00 - 6:45 pm in the Cumberland Great Room

Thank you for your trust, your support, and for making the Whitefish Bay School District an Exceptional Place to Learn. We look forward to continuing our partnership with you as we plan for the future of Whitefish Bay School District.

With deep appreciation,

Jamie

Director of Business Services, Mr. Ben Irwin, provides an overview of school funding and its impact on school district facilities.

According to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, "A district's revenue limit is the maximum amount of revenue that may be raised through state general aid and property tax for the General, Non-Referendum Debt and Capital Expansion Funds."

Each year, any increases to the revenue limit are determined by the state through the state budget process. Over the last decade, state funding has not kept pace with inflation making it challenging for public school districts to maintain programs and remain competitive in a challenging labor market. By state law, all public school districts must stay within the state imposed revenue limit each year.

The state provides funding for public schools primarily through state equalization aid. The property tax levy is determined by subtracting state equalization aid from the revenue limit.

The District works diligently to extend the lifespan and optimize existing mechanical systems and address building needs. Recent examples of facilities improvements include the Library Media Center updates at Cumberland, Richards, the Middle School, and the High School, as well as updating six science rooms at the High School.

Each year, the School Board reviews the District's 10-Year Capital Improvement Plan, which identifies larger projects that need to be addressed in the near future. To plan for these projects, the District sets aside $500,000 annually, specifically for addressing needs identified in the plan. The District currently has identified more than $24.7 million in projects for the next 10 years. In order to address all needs identified in the plan, the District would either need to defer maintenance of facilities, or re-allocate existing funds which are typically reserved for staffing and instruction.

The combination of an anticipated shortfall for maintenance needs as well as the prioritization of safety, security, and accessibility updates across all buildings, has brought the Facilities Advisory Committee to seek input from our larger school community, through the Facilities Survey.

At the Regular Business Meeting on October 22nd, the School Board certified the 2025-26 tax levy. This certification is an adjustment to the levy approved at the Annual Meeting that was held on September 3rd. Variations between the amount approved at the Annual Meeting and the amount certified by the Board in October are due to multiple factors including enrollment, state aid, and the statewide private school voucher program.

The 2025-26 tax levy amount that was certified by the Board on October 22nd was $22,404,435, which equates to a tax levy rate (mill rate) of $6.11. The tax levy rate is an amount used to estimate the school tax bill for property owners for the upcoming year based on the total levy and property valuations. The $6.11 rate set for 2025-26 is a nineteen cent increase compared to the rate set in 2024-25, which was $5.92. This increase is the result of multiple factors, some of which are out of the control of the Whitefish Bay School District. The 2025-27 State Biennial Budget is the first state budget in 15 years to include a per pupil increase to the revenue limit, but no increase to state aid to help offset the difference on the local tax levy. In addition, this year's tax levy was impacted by increasing enrollment, which in the short-term will increase the tax levy since additional state aid to support this increase is delayed a year. However, increasing enrollment is a positive for the District and the community in the long-run as state aid is adjusted and the revenue limit changes. The District also saw an increase in the private school voucher amount, which public schools in Wisconsin must levy for each year and then send to the state to fund the program. This year's levy also includes an amount to pay off the remaining debt for the District from the 2009 referendum projects, which will reduce the tax burden in future years and save on interest costs.

Jo March isn’t your typical Victorian lady. She’s indecorous and headstrong, and one day she’s going to be a great American novelist. As she and her sisters grow up in the middle of the Civil War, they strive to be brave, intelligent, and imaginative young women. But as adulthood approaches, each sister must negotiate her private ambitions with society’s expectations. In a war-torn world defined by gender, class, and personal tragedy, Jo March gives us her greatest story: that of the March sisters, four dreamers destined to be imperfect, amazing little women.

Come join us for this powerful, moving experience!

When: 7:00 on November 14th & 15th & 2:00 on November 16th

Where: Whitefish Bay High School Auditorium

Tickets: $15 for Adults, $10 for Senior Citizens, & $5 for Students

Ticket Information: WFBHSTHEATER.COM

The School District of Whitefish Bay shared the ACT, Pre-ACT, and Forward Exam scores from the 2024-2025 school year which had been recently released by the Department of Public Instruction.

Come hear about each one of our school’s continuous improvement efforts at each of the Annual School Reports. All School Reports will take place at the High School LMC at 7PM.

Each of our schools has developed and refined a school improvement plan aimed at ensuring an aligned and collective commitment around all students' learning and growing in a supportive and caring environment.

• Cumberland, December 10
• Richards, January 14
• High School, February 11
• Middle School, March 11

The School District of Whitefish Bay is hiring a full-time Before and After School Assistant Site Manager/Summer Camp Coordinator at Richards Elementary School! This 12-month, benefit-eligible position leads and supervises youth in programs and activities before and after school and in the summer.

The successful candidate must be available to work 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday during the school year, and 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday during the summer. The successful candidate must be a creative and energetic team player who enjoys working with children and building relationships with volunteers, staff members, and community members!

If you are interested in learning more about this amazing opportunity to serve the students, staff members, families, and community members of Whitefish Bay, please contact Carin Keland, Director of Recreation and Community Education, at (414) 963-3947 or carin.keland@wfbschools.com. Ready to apply? Click here to submit your application!

The Community Garden season has come to a bountiful close, leaving a legacy of growth and giving. The garden flourished, yielding not only some of the sweetest cantaloupes imaginable, but also harvesting a remarkable $4,000 through generous donations and business sponsorships.

This success was a true community effort, powered by the dedication of over 160 enthusiastic volunteers who contributed their time to planting, harvesting, maintaining, and preparing the garden for the winter.

We celebrated this collective achievement with a festive Harvest Open House on September 14th. Volunteers, donors, and business sponsors gathered to enjoy delicious homemade treats, made with produce from the garden. A true highlight of the season was the heartwarming visit from the senior residents of Eastcastle Place. Their tour brought immense joy, as they enthusiastically got their hands dirty and soaked up some garden sunshine.

We are proud to be more than just a place for produce; we are a vibrant hub of community growth. We eagerly anticipate another year of shared success: Together, we grow!

The School Board and School District invite you to attend School Board Meetings. Board meetings begin at 7PM in the High School Library Media Center, unless noted otherwise.

• November 12 -- Regular Business Meeting
• November 19 - Business & Committee Meetings

Subject to change. Please view BoardDocs for up to date meeting notices and agendas.

Curious about what is discussed at School Board Meetings? Linked below, you'll find key takeaways from the most recent School Board Meetings. Additional information can be found in BoardDocs.

• October 8 Board Meeting Takeaways
• October 22 Board Meeting Takeaways

Cumberland families were on the move last week, for the annual Fun Run! See more photos.

Richards third graders explored and studied nature at Schlitz Audubon Center! See more photos.

Seventh, eighth, and high school boys choir students recently attended the Sing Out! Festival! See more photos.

Homecoming week was a fantastic opportunity to show Duke Pride at the High School! Activities included dress up days, window painting, a pep rally, food truck lunch, and Best of Bay! See more photos.

Activities Newsletters are shared throughout the school year. Check back frequently to stay up to date with athletics and activities! Read More.

The RecGram is the weekly newsletter shared by the Recreation & Community Education Department. Visit their webpage for recent newsletters!

Do you have good news to share with the school district? We would love to hear from you.

Email: districtnews@wfbschools.com
Website: https://www.wfbschools.com/
Location: 1200 East Fairmount Avenue
Phone: 414-963-3921
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WFBSchools/