Vote YES for Strong Schools
Let us know you support the November referendum
A New Plan
At the August 19th board meeting - the school board approved a new referendum to be on the ballot for November 3rd. The new referendum asks for $90 million to:
Rebuild and renovate the middle school on the current location. This results in a nearly 70% new building, with 30% of heavy renovation. Infrastructure and educational spaces will be functionally the same as a new building.
Replace the critical HVAC system at the high school. The scope of that work necessitates updating the fire safety systems, including fire alarms and adding sprinklers.
Update fire safety - updating alarms and adding sprinklers - to both elementary schools.
Upcoming Information Sessions
Information sessions will be held at the Middle School (and one at the High School). These will include a presentation, tour and questions/answer session.
Tuesday, September 15, 2026
6:00 p.m. | WFB Middle School GymMonday, September 28, 2026
6:00 p.m. | WFB High School Link
Thursday, October 15, 2026
6:00 p.m. | WFB Middle School GymMonday, November 2, 2026
6:00 p.m. | WFB Middle School Gym
Joint Statement of Support
We as Yes to Strong Schools and Save Armory Park jointly endorse the new Whitefish Bay School District referendum on the ballot November 3. This new plan takes a meaningful first step towards addressing the critical needs of our schools while preserving both Armory Park and the Veterans Monument and Memorial Garden. We urge the Whitefish Bay community to join us by coming together to vote “Yes” by November 3.
The new $90 million referendum addresses the most urgent needs of our district while protecting the operational budget that pays for teachers and staff:
New Middle School built on the current site that meets modern educational and accessibility needs (70% new and 30% heavily renovated)
New HVAC at the High School that replaces aging systems well past their planned end of life
Fire safety at both elementary schools and the High School - all four main school buildings will finally have sprinklers
Following the April vote, the district returned to the community through focus groups, meetings, and a survey that drew more than 2,100 responses. After months of listening and dialogue, this revised proposal gives Whitefish Bay an opportunity to chart a shared path forward.
Vote “Yes” by November 3 on the
Whitefish Bay School District Capital Referendum
(last question on the ballot!)
Signed,
Yes to Strong Schools
Save Armory Park
Why Use A Referendum?
Schools can’t just raise more money
Wisconsin school funding is set by the state. Each district has a revenue limit per student that cannot be exceeded without voter approval.
Whitefish Bay’s operating budget for 2025–26 is $35.5 million. The district can’t legally raise taxes without a referendum to fund large projects.
Most of the budget is used to pay for staff
About 80% of the operating budget goes to staff salaries and benefits ($28 million).
That leaves about $7 million to cover everything else, including:
• utilities
• technology and equipment
• special education services
• insurance
• routine maintenance
Capital projects are too large for annual budgets
In a good year, the district can save an extra $300K. This amount:
• cannot cover district-wide HVAC replacement ($30M+)
• cannot fund major roof replacements
• cannot pay for large additions or major renovations
School operating budgets are designed for annual expenses, not once-in-a-generation infrastructure upgrades. Referendums, by design, are the mechanism Wisconsin school districts use to fund large capital projects.
The last school facilities referendum in Whitefish Bay was approved in 2009 and funded building maintenance, safety improvements, and school additions.
Let’s Get Ready for November
We’re in this together.
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Who We Are
We are a group of engaged parents and community members who believe deeply in the value of strong public schools and the role they play in shaping our community’s future. Our mission is to provide clear, accurate information about the upcoming school capital referendum and why this investment matters for our students, neighbors, and village.
We believe that informed communities make the best decisions — and we’re proud to support a thoughtful, transparent plan for our schools’ future.
This effort is 100% community-driven. We are volunteers who care about safe, modern learning environments, responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars, and long-term planning that benefits both current and future generations. We know strong schools are essential for academic excellence and property values. Our goal is to help voters understand the needs behind the referendum, the solutions being proposed, and the impact this investment will have on our schools and community. Strong schools build strong communities.