On April 1st, the Hudson School District is asking the community to vote on a $5 million non-recurring operational referendum. This operational referendum would allow the School District to protect the quality of education provided to our students and maintain the high standards the Hudson community expects.

What the Referendum Means

The School District is asking voters to approve a levy increase not to exceed $5 million per year for six years – beginning with the 2025-2026 school year and ending with the 2030-2031 school year. This is a non-recurring operational referendum, which means the additional funding would not carry over or compound each year.

How the Funds Will Be Used

This funding would allow the School District to:

• Maintain a rigorous, college and career-ready curriculum that prepares students for success after graduation.

• Sustain technical education and trades certification courses that equip students with practical, in-demand skills.

• Keep special classes like music, art, and physical education available to our elementary students.

• Provide essential math and reading intervention services to help struggling students succeed.

• Maintain small class sizes to support individualized instruction and stronger teacher-student connections.

• Continue offering a wide range of extra-curricular and athletic activities that contribute to student well-being and connection to school.

• Recruit and retain high-quality staff to support student learning and create a positive school environment.

• Keep our technology up-to-date to meet educational needs and reduce cybersecurity risk.

• Provide transportation for students in grades K-8 who live more than one mile from school and those in grades 9-12 who live more than two miles away.

• Ensure our schools remain clean, safe, and in good repair for students and staff.

The Investment: What It Means to Taxpayers

We understand that any tax increase requires careful consideration. We know the community expects a high return on their investment. The Hudson School District academic results on the WI State Report card show the District scores in the 90th percentile compared to other districts across the state. Hudson High School is a Level 1 Advanced Placement (AP) Pacesetter school. This means 30% or more of all students are taking at least one AP exam and 70% or more earn scores of 3 or above. Success in AP courses provides students with valuable college-ready skills and potential college credits.

Hudson was ahead of the game when implementing new state language arts mandates. The new elementary and middle school language arts curricula have received high marks from engaged students and teachers who are seeing results in the classroom.

Ensuring our curriculum addresses the needs of all students, we have partnered with Northwood Technical College to offer a welding academy. This is an incredible opportunity for students to jumpstart their careers. Courses like this are a game-changer for students interested in hands-on careers. It equips them with real-world skills, offers a chance to earn valuable credentials, and opens doors to exciting opportunities after high school.

Our schools are the foundation of our community. Strong schools build a better future for our children and benefit taxpayers with higher property values. This referendum is not about adding new programs – it’s about preserving the high-quality education and opportunities that make our schools exceptional.

Learn more about the April 1st Operational Referendum at: https://hudsonraiders.org/operational-referendum-april-1-2025/

Community Weighs in on Budget Challenges

In January, the community was invited to discuss the School District’s budget challenges. Over 170 community members, including parents and staff, worked in groups to provide input on potential budget reductions. Participants also discussed the potential for closing elementary schools.

As part of the conversation, community members were asked whether or not the School District should pursue another Operational Referendum. Most participants (84%) agreed that the School District should pursue an Operational Referendum in April. With this feedback, the Board of Education took action on January 13 to put a $5 million non-recurring levy override on the April 1, 2025 ballot. The non-recurring levy override would be in effect for six years, starting with the 2025-2026 school year and ending with the 2030-2031 school year. Passing this referendum question would allow the School Board to levy up to an additional $5 million. The $5 million is a non-compounding amount, meaning the School Board is limited to only levying up to $5 million additional dollars each year. It is not $5 million in year one and then $10 million in year two.

This article goes on to further discuss how the operational funds would be used, the impact on taxpayers, steps the School District has taken to reduce costs, and more.

Click here to read the full newsletter.

Also in this issue:

• April 1, 2025 Operational Referendum
• Meet the School Board Candidates
• Under Construction
• School Highlights
• HHS Welding Academy
• Celebration of Nations
• Protecting Your Child’s Privacy Online
• 2025-2026 4K & Kindergarten Registration

The Hudson School District’s English Language Learners (ELL) Department is hosting the 4th Annual Celebration of Nations on Thursday, April 17, 2025 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Hudson High School. This event will celebrate the many cultures present in the Hudson community with displays, projects, food, and entertainment from other nations.

We are looking for volunteers to create displays representing family nationalities for the event. If you would like to be part of this exciting event click here. Volunteers may be parents, guardians, aunts, uncles, grandparents or friends! Thank you for your consideration!

If you have questions, email connections@hudsonraiders.org

2025-2026 Student Enrollment Information

• If you are new to the Hudson School District – click here to begin your registration process.
  • Family Guide to New Student Enrollment –  instructions for completing the online enrollment process.
• If you already have a child in the Hudson School District – click here to access Skyward to begin your annual registration/enrollment process.
• Check your elementary attendance area/boundary

If you are new to the Hudson School District, you will need to provide 4 documents to the School District:

• Valid Photo ID of Parent
  • Unexpired Driver’s License
  • Passport
  • Government issued ID card with full name and date of birth.
• Verification of your child’s age. Note: The parent enrolling the child must be listed on the child’s verification of age document.
  • Official Birth Certificate (No photocopies are accepted. The School District will not make copies or keep the birth certificate).
  • Passport
  • Health Record
• Proof of address in the Hudson School District:
  • Recent utility bill with name and address.
  • Lease agreement.
  • Mortgage statement.
• Immunization record (State law requires all public and private school students to present written evidence of immunization against certain diseases. These requirements can only be waived if a properly signed health, religious or personal conviction waiver is filed with the school).
  • Wisconsin state immunization record.
  • Out of state immunization record.

Kindergarten Registration:

• Children must be 5 years of age on or before September 1st of the year they plan to attend school in order to register for Kindergarten.
• If your child attended the Hudson School District Community 4K program, you can register online using Skyward Family Access (click here).
• If you have not already registered with the Hudson School District as a 4K student, please call an elementary school or click here to begin the online process.
• If you do not know which school your child would attend, click here for elementary attendance areas.
• Please bring proof of residency (i.e. a utility bill, rental lease, mortgage).

4K Registration:

• Children must be 4 years of age on or before September 1st of the year they plan to attend school in order to register for a 4K program.
• Click here to learn more about the Hudson Community 4K program and community partner sites.
• If your child attended the Hudson School District Community 4K program, you can register online using Skyward Family Access (click here).
• If you have not already registered with the Hudson School District as a 4K student, please call an elementary school or click here to begin the online process.
• Please bring proof of residency (i.e. a utility bill, rental lease, mortgage).
• Student transportation is available for the 4K program to certain sites in your attendance area.

At the Board of Education, January 13, 2025 meeting, members took action to have an Operational Referendum put on the April 1, 2025 ballot. The Board is asking the community to support a $5 million NON-Recurring levy override for six years starting with the 2025-2026 school year.

The Board of Education deliberated on whether to go to referendum, should they ask for a recurring or non-recurring referendum, and if they they chose a non-recurring referendum, how long should the levy override extend.

Feedback from the recent Community Conversation on Budget Challenges, showed that 83.9% of the respondents thought the Board should pursue an Operation Referendum in April.

In November, the community voted down an Operational Referendum for a $5 million recurring levy override. A recurring referendum has no cut-off point. Some community members were uncomfortable with extending the $5 million forever versus a non-recurring referendum with a specific end date.

Learn more about the April 1, 2025 Operational Referendum by clicking here.

Why is the School District asking for an Operational Referendum?

The Board of Education has begun conversations on how they can best ensure our students continue to have, and our staff is able to provide, a quality learning experience.  On January 7, 2025, the Hudson School District is asking the community to give their feedback on potential budget cuts, including the impact of closing one or two elementary schools, and the community’s support for an operational referendum that would allow the School District to exceed the revenue cap.

• When: January 7, 2025 at 6:30 PM
• Where: Hudson Middle School Multi-Purpose Room

Learn more at: https://hudsonraiders.org/budget-planning/

Winners of Star Grants from the Education Foundation were recognized at a ceremony at Hudson High School, among those recognized were, front from left, Melissa Gruenes, Samantha Thrane, Karla Willaby, Sarah Cook and Amy Anderson; back from left, Foundation Board President John Kromer, Heather Fey, Lisa Dumont, Amanda Fedor, Dan Weiland and Foundation Board member Scott Snyder.

The Education Foundation of Hudson awarded Star Grants for innovative classroom projects and curriculum training. The foundation awarded nine grants totaling $20,929.21 for project involving educators at the Hudson School District, St. Patrick School and Trinity Academy.

Foundation Board President John Kromer, and other board members, presented the awards during ceremonies at Hudson High School December 5th. Kromer told recipients that the foundation and community are proud of the educators’ efforts to bring innovative ideas to the classrooms of local schools.

Grants

• Celebration of Nations submitted by teacher Samantha Thrane from River Crest Elementary School on behalf of the Hudson School District. The annual Celebration of Nations is a district-wide event offering displays, food and entertainment highlighting the many diverse cultures present in the district. The annual event is scheduled April 17, 2025 at the high school and is open to the public. The foundation awarded $3,000.
• Tech Ed equipment submitted by teacher Dan Weiland from Hudson High School. The grant will assist in acquiring additional new technology equipment, including multi-meters for testing circuits. The foundation awarded $2,236.
• Phonics Fun submitted by teacher Jenna Weiland on behalf of all six elementary schools in the Hudson School District. The grant is designed to engage elementary students in literacy through interactive games. The program is designed to improve student proficiency in phonics and reading. The foundation awarded $2,700.
• 4K/Early Childhood Augmentative Alternative Communication (AAC) submitted by teachers Amy Anderson, Karla Willaby and Sarah Cook from River Crest Elementary School on behalf of the Hudson School District. The program is designed to assist preschool children with developmental disabilities involving difficulties in communicating with family members, teachers and peers. The foundation awarded $1,652.
• Digital microscopes submitted by teacher Lisa Dumont at St. Patrick School. The grant was for the purchase of two Andonstar digital microscopes to be used by fourth grade students at the school. The foundation awarded $499.98.
• Let’s Play Learn submitted by teacher Heather Fey at St. Patrick School. The proposal aims to identify phonological awareness learning gaps in kindergarten and first grade students. The program is designed to increase spelling accuracy and writing. The foundation awarded $1,495.
• Sibling Support Group submitted by Amanda Fedor (counselor) and Dan Bell (principal) at St. Patrick School. The program is designed to form a support group for siblings of children with special needs. The foundation awarded $1,162.
• Digital Display for multipurpose space submitted by teacher Tammy Langness at Trinity Academy. The proposal involves the purchase of a large screen television and protective equipment in the school’s multipurpose gym space (gym, cafeteria, auditorium). The foundation awarded $3,184.23.
• Reading Intervention Materials/Resources submitted by teacher Melissa Gruenes at Trinity Academy. The grant will assist in obtaining necessary materials and resources to establish a reading intervention program at the school. The foundation awarded $5,000.

The foundation is funded by private donations, mostly coming from local and area businesses, individuals and foundations. Star Grants offer financial support for projects that would not typically be funded in the normal budgeting process. The foundation, founded in 1990, is a private organization established to strengthen community participation in all local schools and inspire both teachers and students. With these recent grants, the foundation has funded just over $2,120,000 in local education projects and awards since the organization’s inception.

In addition to Kromer, current foundation board members are Lynn Krueger, Dr. Ron Bernth, Jodell Krause, Doug Stohlberg, Heidi Gilbert, and Scott Snyder. Steven Keller is the organization’s volunteer executive director.

Learn more at: https://hudsonraiders.org/educationfoundation/