Operational Referendum – November 5, 2024

Vote November 5th

Learn why the Hudson School District has an operational referendum question on the November 5th ballot by watching the video below.

 

Listen to our recent podcast with Dr. Ouellette

Why is an Operational Referendum necessary?

State policy limits how much school districts can spend. Most school district funding comes from a combination of state aid and local property taxes. From 1994 to 2009, school district revenue limits were adjusted for  inflation. During this time, most school districts could keep up with ongoing needs. Since the 2010 state-imposed revenue cap was put in place, 80% of school districts in Wisconsin have turned to their community voters asking for a levy override in the form of an operational referendum.

More and more school districts have fallen behind without state aid increases to account for inflation. We have critically reviewed budget projections extending through 2028-2029. Based on assumptions that consider wage increases, health benefits, revenue limits, student enrollment, and special education aid, the School District will experience a budget deficit estimated at $7.5 million by 2028-2029.

In addition to state aid not keeping pace with inflation, student enrollment has declined over the past several years. Across the country, declining birth rates have contributed to the lower number of school-age children. At the same time, the Hudson community has seen a decrease in the number of families with school-age children moving into the area (in-migration). The School District has maintained a “capture rate” of over eighty percent. Capture rate refers to the number of school-age children who reside in the School District and attend Hudson Schools. This capture rate has remained stable for over twenty years.

Click here to learn more about the November 5th operational referendum

North Hudson Construction Has Begun!

A group of children sitting in the backhoe shovel.

Hudson Middle School and North Hudson and EP Rock Elementary Schools Construction Update

The School District is excited to begin construction projects at Hudson Middle School, North Hudson Elementary, and EP Rock Elementary Schools this fall. The community approved these capital projects in April 2023. The initial bids came in over budget. This past spring, the School District decided to rebid the projects. The spring bids provided a more favorable timeline, resulting in a savings of roughly four million dollars.

North Hudson Elementary held its groundbreaking ceremony on September 10th. During the next several months, construction will focus on the two-stage gymnasium and media center addition. Work will also begin on updating the building’s utility service. Remodeling of the classrooms and other interior spaces is scheduled to start in January.

Keeping students and staff safe throughout the construction process is a priority. Protective fencing has been installed outside, and temporary partition walls will close off access to classrooms while they are updated. The partitions will minimize noise, dust, and other disruptions, ensuring the learning environment has minimal impact. The project team is committed to maintaining safety and limiting interference with daily school activities as we progress with building improvements.

At Hudson Middle School, the construction focus has shifted to interior improvements. The media center has been updated with new furniture and shelving, providing students and staff with a more functional and inviting learning environment. The improvements also allow for individual study and collaborative learning with flexible seating.

Planning continues at EP Rock Elementary, with actual construction beginning in January.

All three projects will be completed by the fall of 2025.

Learn more about the construction projects by clicking here.

Annual Meeting Highlights

Board of Education sitting on the stage at the Hudson High School auditorium

The Board of Education held their Annual Meeting on September 9, 2024.

Superintendent Dr. Ouellette addressed the community highlighting the state-of-the Hudson School District. Click here to view Dr. Ouellette’s presentation.

Chief Financial and Operations Officer Bonnie Stegmann presented the 2024-2025 budget for approval.

Superintendent Ouellette Elected to National Education Governance Board

Portrait image of Dr. Ouellette.

Dr. Nick Ouellette, Superintendent of the Hudson School District, was elected to a three-year term on the executive committee of AASA, the National School Superintendent Association.

Founded in 1865, AASA serves as the nation’s premier organization for public school district leadership, representing thousands of school system leaders throughout the United States.

The 22-member committee, elected by the AASA governing board, represents each region of the country. The committee meets quarterly and conducts the ongoing business of the organization. 

“Having experience in a variety of district sizes and settings throughout my career provides me with a great understanding of the many challenges facing districts around our region,” said Dr. Ouellette. “Fostering deep relationships with public school leaders has provided me with a true understanding of what others are going through and increases my ability to offer support.”

Dr. Ouellette served as Wisconsin Association of School District Administrators (WASDA) President from 2022 to 2023, and has served on their Board of Directors since 2016. He has been a passionate AASA Governing Board member since 2018.

Back to School Checklist

Back to school checklist with Hudson Schools logo and colored chalk.

The countdown to back to school is here! Here’s what you need to know to start the 2024-2025 school year.

First Day of School

  • 1st – 12th grade is August 28, 2024
  • 4K is August 29, 2024
  • Kindergarten is September 3, 2024

School Supply Lists

The Sharing Tree provides free school supplies and backpacks to families in the Hudson School District. Click here to learn more.

Meet the Teacher and Orientation Nights

  • Middle School 6th Grade – August 22, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
  • Elementary school meet the teacher – August 26, 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM
  • Freshmen Student & HHS New Student Orientation – August 26, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
  • Middle School 7th & 8th Grade meet the teacher – August 29, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Picture Day

  • Hudson High School – August 26th, 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM
  • Hudson Middle School – August 15th, 12:00 PM – 7:00 PM & August 19th, 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM
  • EP Rock Elementary – September 10th
  • Houlton Elementary – September 25th
  • Hudson Prairie Elementary – September 17th
  • North Hudson Elementary – September 24th
  • River Crest Elementary – September 25th
  • Willow River Elementary – September 20th

School Breakfast & Lunch

Hudson School District Ranks in Top 10% of WI K-12 Schools

Hudson School District Ranked in top 10% of WI Schools.

Hudson School District Ranks in Top 10% of All Wisconsin K-12 Schools

The Hudson School District received good news on the Wisconsin School State Report Card and from the US News & World Report school rankings. The District attained the “Exceeds Expectations” rating from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI). The District’s overall report card rating places Hudson in the top 10% of all K-12 districts in Wisconsin. Additionally, this is the highest school district rating in CESA 11 and in the Big Rivers athletic conference. 

Hudson had the highest School Report Card score in comparison to neighboring school districts.

  • Hudson – 75.9
  • St. Croix Central – 73.5
  • Somerset – 72.4
  • River Falls – 70.8
  • New Richmond – 66.1

The Hudson School District also learned two Hudson elementary schools rank in the top 20 elementary schools in Wisconsin on the US News and World Report’s annual school ranking. Houlton Elementary School ranked 7th and North Hudson Elementary School ranked 20th. There are over 1,200 public elementary schools in the state.

Hudson High School ranked 44th out of 514 Wisconsin high schools. In a review of neighboring high school district rankings, Hudson is the only area high school ranked in the top fifty. Hudson also performed well in comparison to Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area high schools with a #25 ranking. 

  • Hudson – 44
  • St. Croix Central – 63
  • River Falls – 78
  • New Richmond – 90
  • Somerset – 209

The US News and World Report’s ranking is widely regarded as a benchmark for assessing the quality of education across the nation. The Hudson School District rankings are a testament to its continuous dedication to providing a high-quality learning environment for its students.

Key highlights contributing to the Hudson School District’s success include:

  1. Academic Excellence: The District has consistently demonstrated high academic standards, with students achieving notable success in standardized testing and advanced placement courses.Recently, Hudson High School received Advanced Placement Honor Roll recognition for delivering successful results while expanding access for students. Based on the 2023 test score data, Hudson High School earned Gold Level recognition. This is the second highest accomplishment for schools nationwide and puts Hudson in the top 1,700 schools in the nation. 
  2. Academic and Extra-Curricular Opportunities: Hudson High School offers a wide variety of college level courses during the school day – over 20 Advanced Placement courses, 11 Project Lead the Way courses, and 27 dual credit courses in partnership with University of Wisconsin – River Falls, and Northwood Technical College. Outside the school day, Hudson students can participate in 18 athletic teams, over 10 competitive extracurricular activities, and over 10 non-competitive extracurricular activities. 
  3. Instructional Excellence: District instruction is data driven. School teaching teams review standardized test scores and other measures to guide instruction for improved student learning outcomes. Emphasis has been placed on teacher support with veteran teachers mentoring and supporting new teachers. The District fosters a culture of high expectations with high levels of support. 
  4. Student Achievement: Hudson School District’s students consistently excel in various academic, extracurricular, and leadership activities, showcasing the District’s commitment to nurturing individuals with a wide range of skills and abilities. The District recognizes the importance of family engagement in the academic success of students. Teachers and staff work hard to partner with families to maximize the learning potential of all students.
  5. Community Engagement: The strong partnership between the District and the local community plays a crucial role in supporting student success. Collaborative efforts ensure students receive a well-rounded education and support beyond the classroom.

Superintendent Nick Ouellette expressed gratitude for the hard work and dedication of the District’s educators, staff, students, and the entire community. “Our School Report Card and the US News & World Report recognition is a result of the collective efforts of our exceptional staff, supportive families, and engaged students. We are very proud of this achievement and remain committed to providing the best education in the region and the state.”

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Speak Up Speak Out – 24 Hour Tip Line

Speak Up Speak Out logo

Speak Up Speak Out

The State of Wisconsin’s Office of School Safety provides a 24/7 tip line for reporting potential harm or criminal activities directed at schools, students, and or staff. The Speak Up, Speak Out (SUSO) School Resource Center is set up to respond confidentially and quickly. The tip line is not just for threats to do harm to schools. Tips are also made regarding daily concerns students encounter such as bullying, drug use, self-harm, suicidal thoughts and more. The Hudson School District is part of the SUSO network.

Most tips fall into one of three categories:

  • A classmate is being bullied or bullying someone else.
  • A classmate might hurt themselves.
  • A classmate might hurt others.

We all play a vital role in creating safe schools and communities. Anyone can submit a tip. Tips are received by a trained resource center staff who pass appropriate information on to local law enforcement and schools. We want people who see something to say something. SUSO allows us as a school community to keep each other safe, address concerns about someone’s safety, and help get the support needed to resolve concerns.

We encourage student and families to contact their building administrator or SUSO of any threats to do harm to a school.

 

Education Foundation Awards Over $12,600 in Star Grants

Recipients of the Education Foundation Star Grants.

Among the educators and program partners earning grants from the Education Foundation of Hudson were, from left, Dan Bell (St. Patrick School principal), Amanda Fedor (St. Patrick School), Tracy Metz (Willow River Elementary School), Stephanie Chuckel (Willow River Elementary School), Traci Wolfe (River Crest Elementary School), and Samantha Thrane (River Crest Elementary School).

The Education Foundation of Hudson awarded Star Grants in November for innovative classroom projects and curriculum training. The grants totaled $12,622.77 for five projects involving several educators and touching many schools in Hudson.

Foundation Board President Lynn Krueger, and other board members, presented the awards during ceremonies at Hudson High School on November 30, 2023. Krueger told recipients that the foundation and community are proud of the educators’ efforts to bring innovative ideas to the classrooms of local schools.

Grant recipients are listed below.

  • ELL communication iPads submitted by Samantha Thrane from River Crest Elementary School. The program will impact all non-English speaking students at Hudson elementary schools. English language learners (ELL) will have access to iPads that are able to translate both speech and printed words from their native language to English, or vice versa. Hudson elementary schools currently have 71 ELL students at various English speaking levels. The books assist both students and parents as they learn English. The foundation awarded $3,989.85.
  • One School, One Book submitted by Traci Wolfe from River Crest Elementary School. The proposal will provide every student and classroom with one book to help build a sense of community amongst their peers and provide a connection of home and school communication. The foundation awarded $2,634.
  • Hudson High School tech education equipment submitted by Dan Weiland. The program is designed to provide updated equipment for the STEM lab. It will be geared toward electronic engineering testing equipment and 3D design materials. The foundation awarded $2,616.
  • Building peer communication via Augmentative Alternative Communication submitted by Stephanie Chukel and Tracy Metz from Willow River Elementary School. The equipment will be used by students with complex communication needs. The equipment will help students with AAC to increase social and academic interactions. The foundation awarded $2201.92.
  • Sensory room materials written by Amanda Fedor from St. Patrick’s School. The materials will be added to an already existing sensory room at the school where students with certain needs can deal with stress or other issues. The room has become useful in assisting the counseling department at the school. The foundation awarded $1,181.

The foundation, founded in 1990, is a private organization established to strengthen community participation in local schools and inspire both teachers and students. With November’s grants ($12, 622.77), the foundation has funded just over $2,100,00 in local education projects and awards since the organization’s inception.

In addition to Krueger, current Foundation board members are Dr. Ron Berth, Jodell Krause, Doug Stohlberg, Joan Thompson, John Kramer, Heidi Gilbert, and Scott Snyder. Thompson recently announced that she will be retiring from the board at the end of this year (2023). Steven Keller is the organization’s volunteer executive director.

Learn more about the Education Foundation at: https://hudsonraiders.org/educationfoundation/

Senior Tech Club Learns About Emergency & Medical Information Settings

Senior citizens and National Honor Society members listing to IT presentation.

At the December Senior Tech Club meeting, members wore their favorite festive attire and brought some holiday treats. Time was spent learning how to set up emergency and medical information on their cell phones. The Senior Tech Club members were joined by 15 National Honor Society students who provided individualized support for senior members!

If you would like to learn more about Senior Tech Club, contact the School District’s IT Department at 715.377.3709