Champions for LM Public Schools

11/01/2026

Halloween fun at LMES!!

10/28/2026

Thanks, Mrs. Salaam, for your leadership and dedication to our staff and students at LMES!

🌟 Principal Highlight 🌟

In honor of National Principals Month, we’re celebrating the incredible leaders who make a difference in our schools each day! Today, we’re proud to spotlight Mrs. Wendy Sallam, Principal at Lake Mills Elementary School. 📚

Mrs. Sallam leads with heart and dedication, creating an environment where every student and staff member in our community can succeed. 💙💛

Join us in thanking Mrs. Sallam for all she does! 🙌

10/27/2026

Be a voter for our kids!!

Is your district one of the 72 statewide that has one or more school referendum questions on the Nov. 3 ballot?

Let's make sure public schools have what they need to thrive now -- AND let's elect leaders who are ready to disrupt this cycle of funding by referendum with the next state budget!

Get informed and on or before November 3!

See your ballot and find your polling place at MyVote.WI.gov

10/26/2026

Students shared that Mrs. Wiske is kind, helpful, caring, and always willing to support them. One student said, “She makes everyone feel at home and helps you if you're struggling.”
Congratulations, Mrs. Wiske! 💙

We are thrilled to recognize Mrs. Alicia Wiske, 7th-grade teacher at Lake Mills Middle School, as Lake Mills Rotary Club’s Teacher of the Month!

Mrs. Wiske is starting her fourth year at Lake Mills Middle School and has more than 10 years of teaching experience. She was selected based on nominations from our school community. 💙💛

Her nominators praised her ability to challenge and support all learners, creating meaningful scaffolds and making sure every student has the opportunity to succeed. They also highlighted the strong relationships she builds with students and the many ways she goes beyond her classroom to make a difference at Lake Mills Middle School.

Students shared that Mrs. Wiske is kind, helpful, caring, and always willing to support them. One student said, “She makes everyone feel at home and helps you if you're struggling.”

Congratulations, Mrs. Wiske! 💙💛

✨ Nominate a teacher: bit.ly/4ilUs1D
ℹ️ Visit the Teacher of the Month website: bit.ly/4xOevL7

10/24/2026

"The funds from the November 3 referendum will help maintain existing student educational programs and class sizes, retain high-quality teachers and staff, and support essential operations, including buses, technology and maintenance."

10/21/2026

"Mr. Vogel’s leadership, dedication, and commitment guide our students and high school staff each day." 💙💛

🌟 Principal Highlight 🌟

In honor of National Principals Month, we’re celebrating the incredible leaders who make a difference in our schools each day! Today, we’re proud to spotlight Mr. Cale Vogel, Principal at Lake Mills High School. 📚

Mr. Vogel’s leadership, dedication, and commitment guide our students and high school staff each day. 💙💛

10/19/2026

The state sets the amount that local school districts can spend per student. When that amount is not adjusted for inflation, local districts are forced to go to referendum to meet their increased costs.

Keeping our community informed about Lake Mills Area School District finances, funding and the November 3 operational referendum.

Finance Friday: The Rising Cost of School Operations
School districts are facing the same rising costs as families and businesses. At the same time, Wisconsin’s revenue limits have not been adjusted for inflation since 2009.

For Lake Mills Area School District, the cost of running our schools has continued to increase while the revenue available to support those costs has not kept pace. We’ve stretched taxpayer dollars, made reductions, and adjusted spending to manage these rising costs, but the District continues to face a growing budget deficit.

Here are a few examples of operating costs that have increased from 2021-22 to 2025-26:
🔹 Copy paper: 156.8% increase
🔹 Property insurance: 120.1% increase
🔹 Trash: 88.3% increase
🔹 74-passenger bus: 47.8% increase
🔹 Phone: 18.3% increase
🔹 Electric/Water/Sewer: 12.9% increase

If approved by voters, the operational referendum would provide $2.9 million annually for four years to help maintain the people, programs and services that support student success. We’re sharing this information to help our community understand how district resources are being used and why this request is on the November 3, 2026 ballot.

🌐 Learn more: lakemills.k12.wi.us/district/operational-referendum

10/14/2026

"In 2023, Lake Mills transferred $1.75 million from its general fund to support students receiving special education services. That amount increased to $1.95 million in 2024, $2.3 million in 2025, and is projected to reach $2.5 million in 2026.
When state funding falls short, local districts must make difficult financial decisions to meet legal requirements and support all students."

Did you know that Wisconsin reimburses public schools for only a portion of what they actually spend on special education? While school districts are legally required to provide these vital services, the state has historically covered about 30% of the cost, leaving school districts (local property taxpayers) to cover the rest.

Special education provides extra support and services for students with disabilities that affect how they learn. Students ages 3 through 21 may qualify if a disability affects their learning and they need specialized instruction.

STATEWIDE:
In the 2025–27 state biennial budget, lawmakers approved an increase in special education reimbursement, stating the state would cover 42% in the first year and 45% in the second year. However, the actual statewide reimbursement fell short of that promise, coming in at about 38% in the first year and 40% in the second.

Because of this gap, school districts across Wisconsin must redirect significant funds from their general education budgets to meet legal requirements for special education services—totaling more than $1 billion statewide each year.

LAKE MILLS AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT:
In 2023, Lake Mills transferred $1.75 million from its general fund to support students receiving special education services. That amount increased to $1.95 million in 2024, $2.3 million in 2025, and reached $2.5 million in 2026.

When state funding falls short, local districts must make difficult financial decisions to meet legal requirements and support all students.

If you have questions, Ms. Tasha Naylor, our Director of Business Services, is happy to connect.

10/11/2026

You're invited to the final operational referendum information session this week:
🔹 Tuesday, October 13
🔹 5:00–6:00 p.m.
🔹 Lake Mills Elementary School – 1st Grade Neighborhood

Keeping our community informed about Lake Mills Area School District finances, funding and the November 3 operational referendum.

Finance Fridays | What Has the District Done to Control Costs?
Before asking residents for additional support, the Lake Mills Area School District has taken numerous steps to control costs, reduce long-term expenses and stretch available dollars.

These actions have saved money and helped Lake Mills operate for more than a decade without an approved operational referendum. However, they have not eliminated the growing gap between recurring expenses and available revenue.

For the 2026–27 school year, the District is projecting an operating gap of approximately $1.2 million. Staffing reductions and other spending cuts continue to be reviewed, but additional reductions would increasingly affect class sizes, student programs, employee retention and essential services.

🌐 Learn more: lakemills.k12.wi.us/district/operational-referendum

📅 Listen and ask questions at our final referendum information session:
🔹 Tuesday, October 13
🔹 5:00–6:00 p.m.
🔹 Lake Mills Elementary School – 1st Grade Neighborhood

10/05/2026

This World Teachers' Day, we're thankful for the heroic Wisconsin teachers working hard to do more with less as our public schools grapple with the state's school funding crisis – which wouldn't have to happen if the Wisconsin state legislature adequately funded our public schools. Your experience matters, and we want to make sure more of our friends and neighbors understand the burden that diminished school funding places on our teachers.

Please take 5 minutes to share your story to help us advocate for the funding our schools need to thrive: https://www.fundwipublicschools.org/story