Glendale-River Hills School District

Across Wisconsin, school funding has not kept pace with rising costs. While expenses for staffing, benefits, utilities, transportation, and special education continue to grow, school districts are limited by state revenue caps that do not automatically adjust for inflation. Because districts cannot raise prices or generate new revenue on their own, voters are

regularly asked to approve operating referendums simply to maintain current programs and services. Glendale-River Hills has had a series of operational referendums in place since 2011 to maintain educational programs. The current $4.5 million operational referendum expires this year and we are asking voters for a replacement.

This Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) is set up to answer key questions that voters may have such as:

● Why are school districts statewide in this position?

● Why is the Glendale–River Hills School District in this position?

● What does this referendum mean for our school district?

● What does it mean for students, families, and taxpayers?

Since 1994, Wisconsin public schools have been funded primarily through a combination of state aid and local property taxes, both of which are capped by the state through revenue limits. These limits have not keep pace with inflation.

Inflationary Funding Shortfalls

If school funding had kept pace with inflation over the past decade, Wisconsin districts would be allowed to spend about $2,574 more per student per year. For Glendale–River Hills, which serves approximately 935 students, this represents about $2.4 million annually in lost revenue capacity.

Special Education Funding

Wisconsin currently only reimburses no more than 35% of special education costs. Districts are legally required to provide these services and must cover the remaining 65% locally using general operating funds. In the past year alone, Glendale-River Hills transferred approximately $2.5 million from its general fund to support special education services.

Combined, inflationary funding shortfalls and unreimbursed special education costs create an estimated $4.9 million annual gap between revenues and expenditures for the Glendale-River Hills school district.

Over the past 18 months, under new leadership and a largely new School Board, GDRH has made significant progress restoring financial stability and transparency. An overhaul of the Business Office, new financial systems and public monthly reporting were implemented, revenues increased by $9.9 million, and expenditures were reduced by $2.3 million compared to the prior year. All audits are current and filed, and the expiration of the 2019 non-recurring referendum has resulted in a lower mill rate for taxpayers in 2025.

Funds from the 2024 two-year $4.5 million operating referendum supported:

Core academic and allied arts programs, including band, orchestra, choir, technical education, and STEM
Small class sizes and student to teacher ratios
Competitive staff compensation to attract and retain quality educators
Rising employee healthcare costs
Daily and emergency maintenance needs

Unfortunately, GDRH has needed to rely on temporary, non-recurring operating referendums to fund basic operations because state aid and revenue limits are insufficient since 2011.

Our Voters approved a $4.5 million, two-year operating referendum in November 2024, which expires creating a significant revenue cliff.

Without a replacement referendum, the District would face deficit spending or deep cuts to essential educational services, impacting program quality and student learning.

GDRH is seeking a replacement non-recurring operating referendum not because of mismanagement, but because temporary solutions are expiring while structural funding challenges remain unresolved at the state level. The referendum process is the only legal mechanism available to maintain current programs and services under Wisconsin law.

If the referendum passes

Class sizes and teacher-to-student ratios will remain the same
Critical reading and math intervention will resume
Talent development programs and opportunities will be preserved
Tech Ed, STEAM, music (band, orchestra, choir), and world language courses at Glen Hills Middle School will continue
Student support services (counselors, psychologists, social worker) will be maintained
Compensation and benefits will remain competitive to attract and retain highly qualified staff
Ongoing building and grounds maintenance can be addressed
Curriculum materials and instructional technology will remain current

Passing the referendum allows the District to maintain programs and staffing while engaging the community in thoughtful long-term facility planning.

Years of deferred maintenance have created growing repair and replacement needs across District buildings. Delaying maintenance increases costs over time.
Community feedback shows a desire for facilities that better support modern learning and student services.
Enrollment is projected to remain stable, allowing the District to maintain class sizes while planning carefully for future facility needs.
The District is maintaining all buildings, including Good Hope, to preserve community options.
The operating referendum does not decide facility changes or property sales.
After the April election, the Board will work with the community to determine future building investments and consider options for all district properties as part of long-range planning to reduce operational and maximize the community investment.

If the referendum fails:

25% reduction in the overall school budget
Reducing staff positions which will result in:
- Increased class sizes at Parkway and Glen Hills
- Reduced student supports, including intervention and mental health services
- Reductions or elimination of Music, Tech Ed, Art, STEAM, World Language, and Talent Development programming at Glen Hills
Fewer curriculum resources to remain current and competitive with neighboring districts
Increased school fees for families
Further deferral of building maintenance, increasing long-term costs

Students

If the referendum passes students will...

Continue to learn in smaller, more stable class sizes at Parkway and Glen Hills
Continue to receive reading and math intervention when they need extra help at Parkway and Glen Hills
Continue to receive advanced learning opportunities when identified as Gifted and Talented or needing challenge at Parkway and Glen Hills
Keep access to Tech Ed, STEAM, music (band, orchestra, choir), and world language courses at Glen Hills
Continue to have access to counselors, psychologists, and social workers for academic and social-emotional support at Parkway and Glen Hills
Continue to be taught by high-quality educators the District can attract and retain at Parkway and Glen Hills
Continue to learn in buildings that are maintained and can respond to maintenance needs.
Continue to have access up-to-date curriculum and instructional technology

If the referendum fails students will...

Experience larger class sizes at Parkway and Glen Hills
Receive less individualized academic support at Parkway and Glen Hills
Have limited opportunities for enrichment at Parkway and Glen Hills
Reduced access to Tech Ed, STEAM, music, and world language classes at Glen Hills
Fewer supports for mental health and social-emotional learning
Higher student-to-teacher ratios a Parkway and Glen Hills
Not receive updated curriculum and technology
Delayed repairs to buildings which affects the learning environment

Families

If the referendum passes families will...

Continue with manageable class sizes and consistent teachers for their children at Parkway and Glen Hills
Continue to receive reading and math support when needed for their children at Parkway and Glen Hills
Keep access to advanced learning opportunities for their children at Parkway and Glen Hills
Maintain Tech Ed, STEAM, music (band, orchestra, choir), and world language options for their current and future middle school children
Continued access to counselors, psychologists, and social work support when children and families need it most at Parkway and Glen Hills
Retain the high-quality teachers and staff working with their children at Parkway and Glen Hills
Maintain safe, functional learning spaces for children providing the stability to plan future facility improvements at Parkway and Glen Hills
Maintain current and effective curriculum materials and instructional technology for their children at Parkway and Glen Hills

If the referendum fails families will...

Experience class sizes increase at Parkway and Glen Hills leading to decreased individual attention
See reduced academic intervention and enrichment opportunities at Parkway and Glen Hills
Have fewer course options in music, Tech Ed, Art, STEAM, and world languages for their children at Glen Hills
Encounter reduced access to mental health and student support services for their children at Parkway and Glen Hills
Face less consistency for children through staff cuts and the ability to retain high quality staff
Confront outdated Instructional materials and technology
Experience delayed building maintenance, affecting learning conditions for their children

Community

If the referendum passes the community will...

Maintain strong, high-quality public schools that support local property values
Keep schools stable and attractive to current and future homeowners as enrollment studies project stable enrollment and we have experienced a recent increase in resident enrollment.
Maintain class sizes, academic supports, and enrichment programs that signal a high-performing district
Support a strong education system that prepares students to be skilled and prepared for the next step in their educational journey at Nicolet
Preserve community pride by sustaining schools that reflect shared values and investment
Support continued maintenance of school facilities, protecting taxpayer assets
Allow the District to maintain programs and staffing now, while working with the community after the election to plan future facility investments and consider long-term options, including the Good Hope property.
Provides financial stability while the District engages the community in long-term facility planning to reduce future operational costs

If the referendum fails the community will

Experience program cuts and larger class sizes that may reduce school quality and district stability
See the loss of academic and enrichment opportunities, making the community less attractive to homebuyers
Experience deferred maintenance which further increases long-term costs and can negatively impact neighborhood perception
Experience fewer supports for students which may impact student achievement and success in high school and beyond
Experience ongoing uncertainty of the quality of its schools which may weaken confidence in the District and the community

The 2025-26 mill rate was $6.34. If the referendum is passed in April, the estimated Mill Rate would be $6.75, an increase of $0.41.

PROPERTY TAX IMPACT
Value of Home	2025-2026 Actual	2026-2027 Proposed	Change (+/-)
$200,000	$1,268	$1,350	+82.00
$400,000	$2,536	$2,700	+164.00
$600,000	$3,804	$4,050	+246.00
$800,000	$5,072	$5,400	+328.00

“Shall the Glendale-River Hills School District, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin be authorized to exceed the revenue limit specified in Section 121.91, Wisconsin Statutes, by $5,000,000 per year for four years, beginning with the 2026-2027 school year and ending with the 2029-2030 school year, for non-recurring purposes consisting of operational expenses to maintain district programs?”

A vote of “yes” will approve $5 million per year for 4 years.

A vote of “no” will not approve $ 5million per year for 4 years.

Visit: My Vote Wisconsin

Call: Toll-Free: (866) VOTE-WIS or Local: (608) 266-8005