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/