Home
Starting April 1, 2025, the School District of Wisconsin Dells (SDWD) will open online enrollment for new 4K and 5K students for the 2025-26 school year. The online application can be completed anytime, from the convenience of your home, using a computer or laptop.
For those needing computer access, devices are available at the District Office (1501 Brew Farm Rd, next to the High School) Monday through Friday, 8 am to 4 pm. Additionally, we're hosting an in-person enrollment event on April 9th from 8 am to 6 pm at the District Office.
Come drive with us!!
SDWD is hiring bus drivers for AM/PM routes, AM routes, PM routes, sports trips, or substitute drivers! Sign-on bonus, no experience necessary, paid in-house training!
Summer School Registration Open Now!!
MAY 2025
May has arrived, and we have entered the school year's final and most important stretch! As of May 1st, there are just 25 days remaining in the school year, and let's look forward to finishing the school year in a very positive and strong fashion. Once again, I encourage students to demonstrate regular attendance and fully engage in their daily learning. As a friendly reminder, the last day of classes is an early release on Thursday, June 5, 2024. However, some of our middle and high school students will resume summer school on the morning of June 9, 2025, and for our elementary learners, there is an opportunity to participate in summer school after the 4th of July. Please be mindful that the summer school registration deadline is May 30, 2025.
SCHOLARSHIP & GRADUATION EVENTS
The annual WDHS & WDEF scholarship program is to be held on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, and it will begin at 6:00 pm. Once again, our venue will be the amazing Nelson Family PAC, and participants will be able to enjoy the comfort of the theater seating and the exceptional sound and sightlines of this wonderful facility. While most scholarships remain a surprise, over sixty students will receive at least one scholarship, and it is anticipated that well over $500K will be presented to the graduating senior class members. Our students are fortunate to live in such a generous community, and we can't thank everyone enough for their significant charitable investments in the youth of this community. It is truly amazing!
Secondly, graduation is scheduled to take place Friday, May 23, 2025, with the commencement ceremony beginning at 5:30 pm sharp in the WDHS outdoor athletic complex. In the event of inclement weather, as was the case last year, the district will make the decision to pivot and move the ceremony to Jack B. Olson court. This information will be communicated in a timely manner. We look forward to celebrating and recognizing each graduating member of the class of 2025. We hope to see you there!
2025-26 BUDGET PLANNING
The district has been working towards developing its 2025-26 budgets. One is the revenue budget, which is out of the district's control due to temporary revenue caps put in place during the 1993-94 school year. The second budget is the expenditure budget. When district Business Manager John Belter presented the initial projection to the public at the Board meeting on February 10, 2025, there was, as expected, a structural budget deficit. The deficit was projected four years ago when the district presented its plans for a four-year non-recurring referendum. The amount presented at the February board meeting was -$798,296.00. While this budget forecast was created in a manner thought to be a worst-case scenario, one budget variable that came in higher than anticipated was the district's employee health insurance renewal rate. This new rate came back at a 23.9% increase. As such, this actually increased the projected structural deficit to roughly -$1,235,000. With this in mind, the district has taken active steps to significantly reduce the aforementioned structural deficit. Listed below are the steps that have been taken to date.
2025-26 Budget Reduction Score Card
|
2025-26 Budget Reductions |
|
|
Building Budget Reductions: |
$ 23,215 |
|
Purchase of only one (1) bus next year |
$ 150,000 |
|
Reduction of Supervisor Department Budgets |
$ 26,194 |
|
Professional Staff Reduction in Staff |
$ 386,024 |
|
Support Staff Reductions |
$ 46,874 |
|
New Business Manager (Salary & Budget Adjustments) |
$ 29,414 |
|
Restructure of Transportation Department |
$ 29,000 |
|
Total 2025-26 Budget Reductions |
$ 690,721 |
Additionally, at the April 21, 2025, Board meeting, the district approved a significant change to its health insurance plan design by moving to higher deductibles, which will reduce the structural deficit to -$296,000 as of April 21, 2025. The district continues to examine some additional cost savings before the revenue and expenditure budgets are presented at the Board meeting on Monday, June 9, 2025. Currently, the revenue budget is being developed as the legislature is in the process of developing a budget that will ultimately be sent to the governor for approval. The revenue budget is anticipated not to be developed and approved before October 2025. Finally, further budget updates will be provided in future district communications.
Finally, let me close out this newsletter article by saying thank you for the opportunity to serve our community's children. It is both our highest priority and privilege to do so!
Respectfully submitted,
