ADAMS COUNTY, Wis. — Families, educators and students are relieved after voters approved a referendum that will keep a school district running.

What You Need To Know

  • Adams-Friendship needed to pass this referendum to stay operational, or risk dissolution 

  • A similar referendum failed in November 

  • The state funding formula's stagnation for 30 years led to this crisis there 

  • School leaders want lawmakers to update the formula so other districts don't face the same fate

The Adams-Friendship School District has a budget of under $20 million. Without additional funding, the district would have to cut its budget by $8 million. District administrator Tom Wermuth told Spectrum News back in March that cutting almost half their budget would mean the district wasn’t viable, and would likely dissolve.

The district had a $12 million operational referendum on the April 4 ballot. An operational referendum means the district is just asking for money to continue its current programs, classes, and staffing.

The district had a similar referendum on the ballot in November. However, voters rejected it.

After that, community leaders and school administrators got more involved in advocating for the referendum’s passage. This time around, voters approved it.

“It didn’t really sink in until we opened the doors and the kids started to walk through those doors,” said Crystal Holmes, dean of students at Adams-Friendship Middle School. “I think that’s where the tears came for me.”

Students who were old enough to understand what was at stake didn’t know whether they’d have a school in two years.

“They were fearful,” Holmes said. “That’s a hard reality, to look at the students and they know what’s going on, and they have questions. Many of them were not sleeping.”

Adams Police Chief Sam Wollin was instrumental in leading a group dedicated to advocating to keep the district.

“I was born and raised in Adams-Friendship. I’m a graduate of the high school, my wife is, our sons [are],” Wollin said.

When asked how he felt as results rolled in, he got emotional.

“Relieved,” he said while his eyes started to water a little. “Just that reassurance in the community.”

“It’s humbling,” said Michelle Johnson, who has worked for the district for more than 20 years now. “You really felt supported.”

This win will only keep the district safe for another four years. Without a change to the state’s funding formula, they’ll be right back in this position, asking taxpayers to keep their district afloat. The formula hasn’t had a meaningful update in 30 years.

“Future advocacy for the state funding formula to be changed at the legislative level is going to be critical,” Johnson said.

They’re not alone: more than 80 school districts across Wisconsin asked for money on the ballot on April 4.

Related Stories