In Wisconsin, the involvement of local communities in school district budgets is not only encouraged but essential. Wisconsin’s budgeting process for school districts is a collaborative effort that relies heavily on the input and participation of community members. This engagement ensures that the educational needs of students are met while reflecting the values and priorities of the community. 

The Wisconsin Association of School Boards (WASB) serves as a professional organization that works with its member districts to support the tradition of local school board control of Wisconsin’s public schools.

Take a look for yourself and see how these perceptions line-up with what you experience and hear about Kettle Moraine School District.

We have award-winning schools here in the Kettle Moraine School District that are recognized as some of the best in the state, including the top high school in Wisconsin. KM offers innovative learning experiences and environments not offered in other school districts, making it a top destination for open enrolled students. Through excellent financial stewardship, the District has accomplished all this while reducing the school property tax rate, despite plunging state aid. We want to keep KM’s successes going.

On Thursday, March 9th, our KM Student Senators led a civil, structured Candidate Forum where the four school board candidates shared their views, opinions, and comments.

A high-quality school library is one of the building blocks of a great school district. What makes a school library great? Dedicated, professional staff, a high-quality collection, a wide range of options, and a commitment to every student’s right to read.

Teacher turnover is a common issue in many school districts across the country. High rates of teacher attrition negatively impact districts, including reduced educational quality, increased financial burden, and decreased morale among teachers, students, and families. Low teacher turnover enhances educational quality and increases student achievement which can, in turn, enhance property values and the local economy.

Education is a vital aspect of any society, and in the United States, public education has been a cornerstone of the American dream. Since the nation's founding, education has been a priority, and both Republican and Democratic presidents have taken steps to advance it.

We mean that we don’t choose candidates to support based on their political views, who they vote for, or whether they contribute to one political party or another. We look at whether a school board candidate will conduct themselves in a nonpartisan manner as a school board member.

Policy Governance is a commonsense, practical, effective organizational structure. When it comes to actively governing our schools’ day-to-day operation, a sound set of policies is more than enough. Policy Governance simply means the School Board establishes expectations via policies and District staff figure out how to meet those expectations.

Across Wisconsin and the US, political interest groups target our open school board positions in efforts to take the “public” out of our public schools. They sponsor candidates to advance a national political agenda instead of our community’s educational interests. This trend has been particularly pronounced in the United States, where school boards have a significant degree of control over local education policy. It has created conflicts within local communities where controversies did not exist before and disrupt otherwise unified communities.

If we believe that our KM students deserve the best education then we need to harness the psychological superpower of learning that happens when our students feel valued and included in our schools.

Fears about what students are exposed to and how they learn ebb and flow in the cultural undercurrent in the US. Every few decades they become amplified and create waves on the surface, manifesting themselves as a perceived need for greater “parental control” of, the exercise of “parental choice” over, or the assertion of “parents rights” in education. 

Public schools are a cornerstone of our communities, providing children with the education they need to succeed. However, they can often face challenges, such as inadequate funding and support from the government. That's where parents can come in to help advocate for their local public schools.

Writing a letter to the editor can be a great way to make your voice heard and share your opinion on important issues. Here are some tips to help your letter get published.