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

Residents in our district communities value working hard, making do when you can, taking care of what you have, and doing what's best for the next generation. They expect common-sense school spending that prioritizes what matters and respects taxpayers.

We agree.

We know that money is tight. Families and seniors are paying more and making difficult choices. Our schools are facing those same rising costs.

Like any household or business, when our district has to pay more for health insurance, utilities, fuel and other expenses, we have to find other things to cut, reduce, defer or delay so the district can balance our budgets and pay our bills.

In the past two years alone, the School District of Westfield has cut $820,650 of recurring expenses from our rural budget:

2025-2026: $393,650
💰 Eliminated 4 teachers and 2 school secretaries

2026-2027: $427,000
💰 Eliminating 3 teachers and the Curriculum Director position
💰 Reducing operational costs of telephones, rugs/uniforms, and maintenance

Total Reduction: $820,650

Voter approval of the $1.4 million operational referendum on November 3 will still require future budget cuts, but they will not be as devastating to our teaching and learning. 💜💛

Listen. Ask questions. Make up your own mind.
🗓️ Join us for info session at Thal Acres on Thursday, Sept. 17 at 6 p.m.
🌐 Learn more: westfield.k12.wi.us/page/operational-referendum-2026-nov
❓ Submit questions: bit.ly/sdw-referendum

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

Did you know?

Over the next five years, the School District of Westfield faces a total projected budget gap of between $6 million and $8 million, depending on whether the state keeps its $325 per-pupil increase.

Ballot Question:

To maintain financial stability, the Board of Education voted unanimously to place a $1.4 million non-recurring operational referendum for five years on the November 3, 2026 ballot.

What will this referendum fund?

It would preserve the essential services our residents and families expect: strong academic foundations in reading, writing, and math; career skills and trades programs; quality teacher/staff retention; safe schools; reliable transportation; and well-maintained buildings.

Referendum Information Sessions :

Please join us for a Q&A session to hear for yourself, ask questions and make an informed vote:

• Thursday, September 10: Coloma Community Center at 4:00 p.m.

• Friday, September 11: Westfield Village Hall at 11:30 a.m.

• Tuesday, September 15: Pioneer Park Picnic at 11:00 a.m.

• Thursday, September 17: Thal Acres at 6:00 p.m.

Additional dates will be shared as they are scheduled.

If you would like a board member or administrator to speak to your local community group, please reach out directly at 608-296-2141, ext. 1008.

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