In April, the Fond Du Lac School District’s (FDLSD) over $7 million referendum failed, and was forced to eliminate district positions. In an attempt to balance out the $7.5 million budget deficit, district officials said that they “can not sustain the current staffing levels” for the 2025-2026 fiscal year without the referendum.

Just recently, a study from Harvard and Stanford showed that Fond Du Lac was out pacing the state in math/reading test scores, and has shown significant growth from 2019 to 2024. In 2021, Parkside Elementary failed to meet expectations, and 3 years later, they were labeled in the “exceeds expectations” portion for reading on their report card.  (RELATED: Senator Johnson Announces Pledge to Donate Paychecks to Joseph Fund During Shutdown)

The FDLSD has also proposed a new security system with the implementation of AI software. “This innovative technology can further enhance security measures within our schools. In my recent discussion with Mr. Toney, this opportunity was brought to the table again, reinforcing our collective commitment to school safety,” Superintendent Steinbarth said.

District officials say that the referendum would be used primarily for the continuation of: programs and course offerings; maintain current class sizes, which were increased to 30:1 in many cases; increase security measures; conduct basic building maintenance; and provide mental health support.

Fond Du Lac is one of the only districts in the state to not operate in a deficit. Nearby districts such as Appleton and Green Bay are facing $13 million and $3.6 million deficits respectively. Most areas will resort to more referendums for the money as it’s difficult for state lawmakers to fit individual school budgets into the spending bill. 

If approved by the community this fall, the referendum will go on the April ballot for the city wide vote. (RELATED: 21 Arrested in Manitowoc County as ICE Raids Intensify)