Tell Us You’re Coming
(and If You Plan to Vote YES)
This helps us plan the supporters kickoff meeting on Feb 22 and understand community support so we can organize turnout before April 7.
Your information is confidential and will only be used by this volunteer group to coordinate turnout. Read our Privacy & Use Policy.
Meeting Details
Sunday, February 22
Cahill Warming House
Meeting: 8-9pm
Chat & Grab Flyers: 2-9pm
What You’ll Get
✔ Meet other supporters
✔ Learn simple ways to help
✔ Get material + talking points
✔ Plan outreach together
Whitefish Bay’s reputation is built on a tradition of academic excellence, but our facilities have reached a critical tipping point. It’s time for our community to invest again. This capital referendum represents a pragmatic and quality-driven approach to ensuring our schools remain safe and accessible – all while protecting the operating budget that supports our teachers, students, and staff.
What a YES Vote Means
Reliable Infrastructure
Old, unreliable systems mean high maintenance costs. This directly diverts dollars from the operating budget, which is mostly used to pay teachers and staff. New systems will reduce maintenance costs, lower the risk of emergency repairs, and protect our operating budget.
New Learning Environments
Building a new middle school costs less than updating the current site. A new middle school will create learning spaces that meet the needs of the 21st century. Help create civic pride while ensuring minimal disruption to student learning.
Improved Safety, Security, and Accessibility
Broken fire protection systems. Cracking foundations. Inaccessible front entrances. Unsafe dropoff conditions. The district’s buildings are showing their age. This referendum will bring every building up to modern safety, security, and accessibility standards.
Why Your Vote Matters
This Will Be A Close Vote
Only a portion of Whitefish Bay households currently have children in the schools. Many residents support strong schools in general, but the outcome will ultimately depend on whether supporters actually vote.
Spring Elections Work Differently
April elections have less attention and fewer reminders than November elections. Even when turnout is high, local ballot questions are decided by who makes a plan to vote. A few hundred votes can determine the result.
Awareness Is Still Low
For many residents, the ballot will be the first time they encounter the referendum. When voters feel unsure, they often skip the question or vote no.
Why We Are Asking You to Sign Up
Every vote counts. We want to make sure you have everything you need (voting reminders, deadlines, referendum updates) to vote by April 7.
What Happens If This Doesn’t Pass?
The Needs Don’t Go Away
Whitefish Bay schools need over $100 million in facility updates. If the referendum does not pass, those needs don’t disappear. They become more expensive, more disruptive, and harder to manage over time.
Costs Eat Into Operating Budget
Without referendum funding, major repairs are paid from the district’s operating budget and reserves. As maintenance costs rise, less funding is available for teacher pay, class sizes, and additional learning programs.
The Needs Costs More
Construction costs increase about 4–6% per year. $135.6M today may cost $200M+ million in 10 years. Piecemeal replacements also increase costs due to losing economies of scale.
Increased Classroom Disruption
Without system replacement, WFB risks school closures or other learning disruptions for failing systems.
Voting NO doesn’t save money. It increases costs and impacts student learning.
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 70% of the operating budget goes to staff salaries and benefits ($25 million).
That leaves about $10 million to cover everything else, including:
• utilities
• technology and equipment
• special education services
• insurance
• building maintenance
Capital projects are too large for annual budgets
Even if the district saves $2–3 million per year, that amount:
• cannot cover district-wide HVAC replacement
• 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.
What Your YES Vote Funds
Updated Facilities and Safety Improvements
Proposed projects: Replace aging HVAC, electrical, and plumbing systems and improve building safety and accessibility.
| Current Problems | Proposed Solution |
|---|---|
| Aging HVAC, electrical, and plumbing systems: some dating back to 1940s. High maintenance costs and specialized parts needed for repairs | New systems improve energy efficiency, reduce maintenance, and lower the risk of emergency repairs |
| Classroom HVAC units are loud, disrupting student attention | Centralized systems remove equipment from classrooms and reduce noise |
| Elementary school main areas do not have sprinkler systems | Installs sprinkler systems in main areas to meet current fire safety standards |
| Elementary school main entrances aren’t accessible and have security concerns | Provides secure, accessible main entrances with improved visibility and controlled access |
| Drop-off and pick-up areas create traffic congestion and safety concerns | Improves traffic flow and safety for walkers, bikers, and vehicles |
| Maintenance and emergency repairs draw from the operating budget and savings | More reliable systems reduce unexpected repairs and allow for more predictable maintenance planning |
| Current Problems | Proposed Solution |
|---|---|
|
Aging HVAC, electrical, and plumbing systems |
New infrastructure improves efficiency, reduces maintenance, and lowers the risk of emergency repairs |
| Existing building layout limits flexibility and accessibility | Classrooms designed to support different group sizes and learning activities |
| Existing building design cannot adapt to modern learning practices | Purpose-built spaces for modern learning, including maker spaces, and flexible project areas |
| Hallway congestion and limited supervision in some areas | Layout improves visibility, circulation, and supervision |
| Limited accessibility in parts of the building, including bathrooms and level changes | Fully accessible design throughout the building |
| Construction costs increase over time | Building now avoids ongoing spending on end-of-life systems and reduces total long-term cost |
Modernized Middle School
Proposed project: Build a new middle school as a long-term solution
Referendum Details
Election Day
April 7, 2026
Total Referendum Amount
$135.6M over 21 years
Estimated Tax Impact
$260 per $100,000 of property value
Property value
$200,000
$400,000
$600,000
$685,000 (avg)
$800,000
$1,000,000
Impact / year
$520
$1,040
$1,560
$1,781
$2,080
$2,600
Per month
$43
$87
$130
$148
$173
$217
Additional Resources
Source of truth for all district information about the referendum.
Background on revenue limits, tax levy, special ed funding, and referendums in WI.
Outlines other options considered with costs and shows what they decided NOT to do.
Call: (414) 963-3901
Email: districtnews@wfbschools.com
Even more resources
School Tours & Info Sessions
Please consider attending these to better understand the current situation as well as to offer support. Childcare is provided by the district.
Mon, Feb 2 at Richards Great Hall
6pm Building Tour
7pm Presentation + Q&A
Link to recording
Tue, Feb 17 at WFB High School Link
6pm Building Tour
7pm Presentation + Q&A
Thu, Feb 19 at Lydell Gym
1:30pm Building Tour
2pm Presentation + Q&A
Tue, Feb 24 at Cumberland Great Room
6pm Building Tour
7pm Presentation + Q&A
Wed, Mar 4 at WFB Middle School Gym
6pm Building Tour
7pm Presentation + Q&A
Mon, Apr 6 at WFB Middle School Gym
6pm Building Tour
7pm Presentation + Q&A
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 build strong communities, and 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.
Want to Learn More?
You can read the full overview of the referendum: what it funds, why it’s needed, and how it affects taxes.
We’ve collected the key facts, timelines, and district information in one place so you can review it yourself and share it with friends or neighbors.