Pioneer Family Update - Week Six!
Please click HERE to see what is happening this coming week.

33 Years of Doing More with Less — Read here: bit.ly/33-years-westfield — Why Our District Is Seeking an Operational Referendum

The School District of Westfield has stretched every dollar for more than three decades without an operating referendum. But 20 years of state funding failing to keep up with inflation has left our district $3,500 per student behind where it needs to be.

To completely match inflation, our schools would need $3.5 million. Instead, the board is seeking voter approval for $1.4 million to bridge the gap and protect core educational programs.

🛎️ 33 years without an operational referendum.

🛎️ $3,500 per pupil lost to 20 years of inflation.

🛎️ $1.4 million request to keep our schools strong.

The referendum is a choice to invest in our kids and our community.

🌐 Learn more at westfield.k12.wi.us and vote on Election Day!

#StudentLearning #EssentialOperations #ResponsibleBudgeting #PioneerNation

YOU'RE INVITED! Please attend any of five more community information sessions added to share details and answer questions about the district's November 3, 2026 operational referendum.

PRESERVING WHAT GENERATIONS BUILT
We are seeking voter approval to exceed the state revenue limit by $1.4 million for five years in order to maintain the essentials our residents expect schools to provide:

📚 ✍️ ➗ Reading. Writing. Math. Career skills. Strong teachers. Safe schools. Reliable transportation. Well maintained buildings. 📐 👨‍🏫 🚌

This referendum is not about expanding programs or funding wants. It’s about maintaining our existing student educational programs and preserving the financial stability of our district.

For the past 33 years of state revenue limits, our district has stretched dollars and trimmed costs to balance our annual budgets without an operational referendum.

However, due to years of rising costs and state aid that has not kept up with inflation, we are facing a budget deficit projected to rise to $8 million in five years. The referendum request is less than our need, but it will help balance our budget and prevent deep cuts to student learning and opportunities.

If the referendum is approved, it is projected to add 50 cents per $1,000 of fair market property value or $50 for every $100,000 of home value. Our total school property tax rate would still remain below the statewide average:

$5.85 = Existing School District of Westfield total school district property tax (mill) rate
$6.35 = Projected total school district property tax rate if the referendum passes (+50 cents)
$7.09 = Statewide average total school district property tax rate

💭 Listen. Ask questions. Get the facts. Make up your own mind.
🌐 Learn more: westfield.k12.wi.us/page/operational-referendum-2026-nov
❓ Submit questions: bit.ly/sdw-referendum

#StudentLearning #EssentialOperations #ResponsibleBudgeting #PioneerNation

On September 23rd, our high school counselors took thirty interested 11th and 12th grade students to the 5th annual Skilled Trades Showcase at Madison College in Portage. Students were able to learn about the trades and participate in many hands-on demonstrations through the experience. Areas showcased included Welding, HVAC, Construction, Cabinet Making, Auto Technician, Diesel Heavy Equipment, Machine Tooling, Metal Fabrication, and more!

Multiple apprenticeship opportunities were discussed and students had the chance to connect with employers actively hiring skilled trades people. It was a wonderful experience and students were very thankful for the opportunity!

Pioneer Family Update - Week Five!
Please click HERE to see what is happening this coming week.

💭 Q & A: Didn't voters already approve a referendum? Can't the district use that money?

Yes, in November 2024 School District of Westfield voters approved a $27 million capital referendum - the first referendum in 30 years - to address high-priority districtwide capital maintenance. The district has completed two of the three phases of that approved referendum, which is updating building systems (mechanical, electrical and plumbing); exterior enclosure and roofing; site work including drainage, asphalt repair and erosion control; and safety and security measures.

The last CAPITAL referendum the district approved was in 1994 to build the high school. This would be the School District of Westfield's FIRST OPERATIONAL referendum ever.

Under Wisconsin law, capital referendums can only fund major facilities, furniture and maintenance projects. They cannot be transferred to pay for daily operating expenses such as:

🟣 Teacher and staff salaries
🟣 Buses, fuel and routine transportation expenses
🟣 Classroom supplies and educational programs
🟣 Utilities and insurance
🟣 Day-to-day operations and maintenance

An easy way to remember the difference:

🏫 CAPITAL REFERENDUM: “Bricks and Mortar”
Pays for major building and facility projects.

👨‍🎓 OPERATIONAL REFERENDUM: “Kids and Programs”
Pays for the people, programs and services needed to operate schools.

The November 3 question is a non-recurring operational referendum seeking $1.4 million annually for five years.

🌐 Learn more at westfield.k12.wi.us/page/operational-referendum-2026-nov

#StudentLearning #EssentialOperations #ResponsibleBudgeting #PioneerNation

PRIDE ACROSS THE FRONTIER: celebrating our history of personal financial literacy instruction and designation as a Next Gen Personal Finance Gold Standard School

💰 Starting with the Class of 2028, ALL Wisconsin high school students will have to complete at least a half credit of personal financial literacy to graduate, under a state law signed in 2023.

💰 But Westfield High School has been requiring personal finance for about 20 years, thanks to the advocacy of Mr. Briggs, a social studies and driver's ed teacher in his 37th year with the district.

“I saw a need and I knew we needed to get students learning about finances at 16, 17, 18 years old,” Briggs said Wednesday. “The earlier you start, the less you have to save.”

📈 Briggs teaches a course called “Financial Success” that includes a budget challenge, stock market game, and LifeSmarts curriculum that WHS has used for the past 25 years. LifeSmarts teaches teens to be smart and responsible consumers and citizens.

⭐ The course helped WHS become designated as a “Gold Standard School” by Next Gen Personal Finance, an organization that helps teachers and advocates for all states to require financial literacy to graduate. According to Next Gen’s 2026 annual report, 11 states already require all graduates to have taken personal finance, and 19 more states including Wisconsin are in progress to full implementation. As of 2026 in Wisconsin, personal finance was a required stand-alone class in 49.1% of Wisconsin schools, was an elective in 42.6% and was embedded in another class for 8.2%.

Westfield High students also have qualified and competed in a state financial literacy competition against hundreds of other Wisconsin schools through an online series of activities and tests. Hosted by the Credit Education Foundation, top state scorers advanced to the state finals in Madison and competed as a team in a quiz bowl format. Westfield students competed against peers from Sauk High School, Oconto Falls, and Tomahawk. Learn more at www.lifesmarts.org or cbmfoundation.org.

👏 Thanks to Mr. Briggs and our math and other teachers who incorporate personal finance concepts in their lessons!

#PioneerPride #PioneerNation 💜 💛

Why can’t additional budget cuts close the district’s projected $6-$8 million five-year funding gap?

That is a fair question that deserves a clear answer.

In this message — https://shorturl.at/UH9E1 — District Administrator Michelle Johnson shares specific estimates showing what some of the most frequently suggested reductions would save, including:

🏫 Closing all three elementary buildings: approximately $375,000 annually in operating costs
🏅 Eliminating all sports, clubs and activities: approximately $400,000 annually
👥 Reducing staff: significant reductions that would affect class sizes, courses, programs and essential school operations

These examples help illustrate the size of the projected gap and the difficult choices facing the district. We encourage residents to review the information, ask questions and learn more about the November 3 operational referendum.

🌐 Learn more at westfield.k12.wi.us/page/operational-referendum-2026-nov

#StudentLearning #EssentialOperations #ResponsibleBudgeting #PioneerNation 

Pioneer Family Update - Week Four!
Please click HERE to see what is happening this coming week.

Phase II Construction Winds Down - Check out the final executive summary from Findorff to see some of the progress and improvements.

https://app.smore.com/n/m4kqd

#Pioneers