Friends of Elkhorn Schools

Supporting the efforts and achievements of Elkhorn Area School District, and the 2024 EASD operational referendum.

Herd of golden elk walking to the right with a dark purple forest and mountains behind them and a golden moon rising over the mountains

Vote YES for EASD

EASD Operational Referendum – November 5, 2024

Exceptional Schools Inspire An Exceptional Community

Herd of golden elk walking to the right with a dark purple forest and mountains behind them and a golden moon rising over the mountains

Let your voice be heard.

Exceptional schools inspire an exceptional community

On Your Ballot

The Question

Shall the Elkhorn Area School District, Walworth County, Wisconsin be authorized to exceed the revenue limit specific in Section 121.91, Wisconsin Statutes, by $1,800,000 for the 2024-2025 school year; by an additional $1,800,000 (for a total of $3,600,000) for the 2025-2026 school year; by an additional $1,700,000 (for a total of $5,300,000) for the 2026-2027 school year; and by an additional $1,700,000 (for a total of $7,000,000) for the 2027-2028 school year and thereafter, for recurring purposes consisting of expenses related to maintaining current instructional programs and class sizes, staffing, ongoing safety, and facility maintenance?

Check YES on November 5, 2024

A large group of 5th-graders in gold t-shirts in front of a long purple and gold "Congrats  Tigers" sign with stars and glitter on a lawn with trees behind them
Students in purple and gold uniforms playing in a marching band, including a football player still wearing his football uniform and playing the tuba
Graduate in purple gown and cap accepting diploma
6 fifth-graders in purple shirts that say "Keep Moving Forward" celebrating moving up to middle school, with an "Oh, the Places You'll Go" bulletin board behind them in a cement school hallway

How Can You Help?

STEP 01

VOTE

Mail-in absentee ballots, in-person absentee voting, or regular in-person voting. Don’t miss your chance, and don’t leave anyone behind!

Not sure if you’re registered? Want to request a mail-in ballot? Not sure what your ballot will look like? Visit My Vote Wisconsin for accurate voting information.

STEP 02

TALK

Don’t just support this referendum quietly. Talk about it. At lunch, over coffee, at practice, in the grocery store – let your friends, family, neighbors and coworkers know that you stand behind the district.

Do you know of a community group, meeting, event, or activity where the Friends of Elkhorn Schools should come and speak? Let us know about it here.

Would you like a sign to display at your home or business? Use our form to request a sign!

STEP 03

JOIN

An event schedule is under construction, but we need your help! Tell us your story, send us an email, or let us know you want to volunteer.

We need help to get the word out – whether you’re willing to knock on doors, distribute signs, address postcards, or just display our signage- We Need You!

Join the Friends of Elkhorn Schools as we spread the message to our community.

How Are Schools Funded?

School funding in Wisconsin is complex. Learn a little more about how a public school is funded through this video, created by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.

What else is the district doing about maintaining a balanced budget?

Ad Hoc Committee

Months of research and discussion by the Ad Hoc Committee led to a 4-pronged recommendation: Close the budget gap; Pre-pay the debt service; Maintain an adequate fund balance; and pass a recurring operational referendum. The District is acting on all 4 of these prongs. Learn more.

Open Enrollment

Elkhorn is consistently an open enrollment attractor- more students choose to come to Elkhorn than choose to leave. This brings in additional revenue to the district, expanding our district’s ability to provide high quality services to all students. Learn more.

Vacant Positions

Administrators consistently review positions vacated when a staff member retires or resigns. Before filling the position, a careful assessment is completed examining the workload, the salary structure, and the needs of the district. Learn more.

Previous Budget Cuts

Elkhorn has a lengthy record of fiscal responsibility, including more than a decade of belt-tightening and budget scrutiny. Learn more.

Updated Transportation Contract

In August of 2024, the district completed an updated transportation negotiation expected to save the district several hundred thousand dollars. Learn more.

High Value for Taxpayer Dollars

Elkhorn is consistently in the bottom 15% of per-pupil average expenditures across Wisconsin, while remaining in the top of academic achievement. Learn more.

Still have questions?

Looking for more information on the upcoming referendum or how we got here? Let’s have a conversation.

Signs have arrived! Request yours now by clicking here, or by visiting Stebnitz Builders during business hours.