Williams Bay leaders propose $9,994,733 levy as superintendent highlights academic gains

Dr. White told attendees at the Williams Bay School District annual meeting that the district had "a very successful 2324 school year," highlighting that the high school was the top-ranked in Walworth County and 31st in Wisconsin according to U.S. News & World Report. He listed new co-curricular offerings and career pathways, including Future Business Leaders of America and expanded youth apprenticeships, which grew from two to five this year.

Dr. White outlined fiscal highlights and a proposed levy for the 2024-25 school year of $9,994,733. "We continue again just to really work on offering opportunities to the kids and expanding their ability to be prepared for their post high school experience," he said. He noted the district did not have to short-term borrow for about the third or fourth year in a row and that the fund balance has grown.

Dr. White provided additional program and outcome figures: students earned 165 college credits during the year, and the district plans to use a portion of fund balance to complete capital projects that rolled over past July 1, 2024. He told the meeting the proposed mill rate would be 0.00488 based on current projections and a 5% increase in equalized property values; he said the final levy will be set after the district's third Friday enrollment figures this fall.

Why it matters: The levy funds the district's operating budget and capital projects; Dr. White framed the proposal as an effort to sustain and expand student opportunities while maintaining fiscal responsibility. The superintendent said the community's support for the recent operating referendum made the funding plan possible.

Next steps: The board recorded the motion to levy $9,994,733 and voted to approve it during the meeting; the district will finalize the levy amount in October after updated enrollment data.