On Tuesday, April 7, the proposed operational referendum question on the ballot for FDLSD fell short of being approved by a majority of voters. As a result, we will need to make difficult decisions as we look to balance our budget moving forward, including not being able to complete security upgrades and continuing conversations about school closures for the 2027-28 school year.
Regardless of the election outcome, we deeply appreciate the valuable conversations that were had with community members throughout this process. We hope this level of engagement will continue as we move forward.
Thank you for considering the referendum for our district.
Today is election day, and our community will see an operational referendum question on the ballot for the Fond du Lac School District! 🗳️
The polls are open until 8:00pm and a valid ID is required to vote. You can find polling locations and more voting information at https://myvote.wi.gov.
An approved referendum will allow FDLSD to exceed our revenue limit by $7.5 million annually through the end of the 2029-30 school year. These funds would help us address expected budget deficits, maintain academic programs and student services, enhance safety systems, and limit the extent of future staff cuts.
More information is available at https://fdlsd.org/referendum2026.
Residents of the Fond du Lac School District will go to the polls on Tuesday, April 7, to vote on a nonrecurring operational referendum. 🗳️
If the measure is approved, our district will be able to exceed our revenue limit set by the state and generate the funds we need to address budget deficits, enhance safety and security in our schools, and limit the extent of future budget cuts.
You can find more information about the proposed referendum, including answers to FAQs, by visiting https://fdlsd.org/referendum2026.
Over the past year, we have taken steps to reduce spending as part of an ongoing effort to address the financial challenges our district faces.
Among the difficult decisions made by the Board of Education and the administration were eliminating 70 staff positions, increasing class sizes, and reducing the use of consultants who help train teachers and support students with learning needs.
However, these changes and other spending cuts are not enough to resolve the annual budget deficits expected in the coming years.
On Tuesday, April 7, residents of the Fond du Lac School District will vote on a nonrecurring operational referendum that would provide $7.5 million annually for the next four years. Critical financial support from the referendum would allow our district to limit future budget reductions and make investments that enhance safety and security at our campuses.
More information about the proposed referendum, including answers to frequently asked questions, is available at https://fdlsd.org/referendum2026.
Like many districts throughout Wisconsin, FDLSD is facing financial challenges due to an outdated and inequitable state funding formula, a lack of state aid to public schools in recent years, and rising costs.
Wisconsin school districts are primarily funded by a combination of state aid and local property taxes. Districts are also subject to a revenue limit that was first imposed at the state level more than 30 years ago. But in recent years, revenue limits for districts like ours have failed to keep pace with inflation and rising costs.
On Tuesday, April 7, our community will vote on an operational referendum question for FDLSD that would allow us to exceed our revenue limit by $7.5 million per year through the 2029-30 school year.
These funds will allow us to address funding shortfalls, limit the extent of future budget cuts, and enhance safety and security across our campuses. Learn more and find answers to FAQs at https://fdlsd.org/referendum2026.
The Fond du Lac School District will be open and operating on a normal schedule tomorrow. After ongoing communication with city and county officials regarding road conditions, it has been determined that travel will be safe for buses and families. Additionally, our facilities team has been on-site, ensuring that all school parking lots and entryways will be cleared and ready for arrival.
Key Reminders:
Safety: We encourage all students and staff to take extra care while walking in parking lots and on sidewalks.
Timing: Allow for additional travel time to ensure a safe commute for everyone.
Thank you for your cooperation and for your commitment to student safety.
❄️ SCHOOL CLOSED: Monday, March 16, 2026 ❄️
Due to inclement weather, the Fond du Lac School District will be closed tomorrow, Monday, March 16.
What you need to know:
🚫 All before- and after-school activities and care are canceled.
🚫 All Community Ed & Rec programs are canceled.
🗓️ Tonight’s Referendum Info Session is canceled. Join us on Tuesday, March 24, at 5:30 PM (Lakeside Park Pavilion).
Stay safe and warm, Fondy families!
Make plans to attend the community forum TONIGHT, March 4, to learn more about the proposed operational referendum for the Fond du Lac School District! 📣
The event will begin at 5:00pm at Theisen Middle School, located at 525 E. Pioneer Road in Fond du Lac. Superintendent Matt Steinbarth will share a presentation, and time will be provided for questions from attendees.
Wisconsin school districts operate under a state-imposed revenue limit that restricts the amount of funding we can receive through state aid and local property taxes. These limits are determined by factors beyond our control, such as declining enrollment and inflation.
An approved referendum on Tuesday, April 7, would allow FDLSD to exceed its revenue limit by $7.5 million annually through the end of the 2029-30 school year. These funds would help us address projected budget deficits, maintain academic programs and student services, and limit the extent of future staff cuts.
Additionally, the referendum would allow us to upgrade safety and security throughout the district. The high school would receive secure entrances to keep our students and staff safe, and updated camera systems would be installed at all buildings.
To learn more about the proposed referendum and how it would support our schools, visit our website: https://fdlsd.org/referendum2026
Join us for our second Community Information Meeting on Wednesday, March 4, and learn more about the operational referendum on the April ballot for the Fond du Lac School District.
The meeting will be held at Theisen Middle School (525 E. Pioneer Rd., Fond du Lac) and begins at 5:00pm.
We look forward to sharing information and answering more of your questions.
Find answers to frequently asked questions and more information: https://fdlsd.org/referendum2026
🎨 March is Youth Art Month! 🖌️
We are so excited to celebrate the incredible talent of student artists from the Fond du Lac School District. Their work will be on display all month long at the Fond du Lac Public Library and the Gallery & Frame Shop.
📍 Don’t miss the Public Reception:
🗓️ Wednesday, March 11th
⏰ 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
📍 FDLPL Langdon Divers Gallery (32 Sheboygan St.)
Come out and support our young creators! #YouthArtMonth #FDLArts #SupportStudentArt #FondduLac
Make plans to join us TONIGHT at Fond du Lac High School for a community information meeting about the operational referendum on the ballot in April!
The session will begin at 5:30pm and provide attendees with opportunities to ask questions and learn more about the ways an approved referendum would support the district’s financial needs and enhance safety and security in our schools.
More information about the proposed referendum, including answers to frequently asked questions, is available at https://fdlsd.org/referendum2026.
Join us for a Community Information Meeting on Wednesday, February 25, and learn more about the operational referendum on the April ballot for the Fond du Lac School District.
The meeting will be held at the high school (801 Campus Dr., Fond du Lac) and begin at 5:30pm.
Operational referendums are a common tool used by school districts in Wisconsin to address funding shortfalls and other financial challenges. More than half of the state’s districts have received approval from voters to exceed revenue limits through referendums in the past decade.
We look forward to sharing information and answering your questions.
Find answers to frequently asked questions and more information: https://fdlsd.org/referendum2026
The Board of Education and administration respect the needs of property taxpayers and have a history of keeping levy rates steady and low. In fact, FDLSD has the lowest mill rate of all districts in Fond du Lac County, at $5.43 per $1,000 of fair market value.
However, we face growing budget deficits associated with declining enrollment, inflation, and insufficient financial support from the state. Had state funding kept pace with inflation since 2009, our district would have received an additional $22.3 million in 2025 alone.
To help address our financial challenges, FDLSD voters will consider a non-recurring operational referendum on Tuesday, April 7. This funding tool would provide $7.5 million annually for the next four years, allowing us to make investments in safety and security and limit the extent of future budget cuts.
An approved referendum would have a tax impact of $1.51 per $1,000 of property value in 2026-27 before declining. With the proposed increase, our mill rate would remain lower than the current state average for the next four years.
You can learn more about the proposed referendum and the ways it would support FDLSD by visiting https://fdlsd.org/referendum2026.
The Fond du Lac School District faces financial challenges that are beyond our control and largely related to the state’s funding system, declining enrollment, and inflation.
On Tuesday, April 7, voters in our community will consider approving a non-recurring operational referendum that would provide $7.5 million annually for the next four years. These funds will allow our district to:
✅Make strategic investments in our facilities to improve safety and security
✅Limit the extent of future staff reductions
✅Minimize disruptions to academic programs and services
✅Maintain career readiness resources and opportunities with industry partners in our community
Learn more: https://fdlsd.org/referendum2026
On Tuesday, April 7, our community will vote on a proposed non-recurring operational referendum for the Fond du Lac School District. If it’s approved, we will be able to exceed our revenue limit by $7.5 million annually through the 2029-30 school year.
Over the past year, our district has:
➡️Eliminated 70 staff positions
➡️Increased class sizes at the middle and high schools
➡️Reduced the number of consultants who help train teachers and support students with learning needs
➡️Cut eight positions in the central office to address budget shortfalls
Despite these spending reductions, we still face projected budget deficits in the years ahead. An operational referendum will reduce the scope of future budget reductions felt by students through supporting the resources and learning environments they need to thrive.
Find answers to frequently asked questions and learn more about the ways a referendum supports our schools: https://fdlsd.org/referendum2026
The Fond du Lac School District is hosting a series of Community Information Sessions, and we want to see you there!
We are heading toward the April 7 referendum, and these sessions are the perfect opportunity for you to get the facts. We’ll be sharing in-depth details about the proposed security upgrades planned for schools across the district to keep our students and staff safe.
What to expect:
Learn what an Operational Referendum is and what it would mean for your taxes
Details on district-wide Safety and Security improvements
Have your questions answered
Mark your calendar!
February 25 - Fondy High at 5:30 PM
March 4 - Theisen Middle School at 5:00 PM
March 10 - Fondy High at 5:30 PM
March 16 - Fondy Hight at 5:00 PM
March 24 - Lakeside Park Pavilion at 5:30 PM
Visit our website for more information: fdlsd.org/referendum2026
This includes all sports, extra-curriculars, before- and after-school care, and Community Education & Recreation department activities.
Stay warm!
Chegwin Elementary School is proud to celebrate a strong showing in the state report card! 🎉
Chegwin students are “exceeding expectations” and demonstrating strong growth in the classroom, ranking in the 80th percentile statewide.
This achievement is the latest step in the school’s progress over the past five years and reflects the dedication of staff who plan with purpose, focus on student success, and partner with families to support every learner. ✏️
Congratulations to the Chegwin community for this remarkable accomplishment and your continued commitment to excellence!
#FDLSD #WeAreFondy
Sabish Middle School students are on the rise! 📈
The latest state report card shows Sabish is “significantly exceeding expectations” and ranks in the 87th percentile statewide. Since the 2020-21 school year, students have continued to make steady improvement—in fact, Sabish students are improving faster in the classroom than 96% of their middle school peers statewide!
This growth is a testament to the hard work of our students, the commitment of our staff, and the strong support of our school community. Congratulations to everyone on this well-earned success! 🎉
#FDLSD #WeAreFondy
Join us in celebrating Megan Dille, the December Teacher of the Month! 👏🍎
Rosenow Elementary and the Fond du Lac School District are truly fortunate to have passionate, dedicated educators like Ms. Dille. As a third-grade teacher, she plays such an important role in helping our students grow in confidence and curiosity. Thank you, Ms. Dille, for the positive and lasting impact you have on the lives of our students every single day!
Thank you for the generosity, Sunny 97.7, Marian University, and Chris Shafer Agency - Farmers Insurance, and celebrating our phenomenal teachers!
