Southern Door School District Plans Cuts After Voters Reject Referendum

May 8, 2026 - 01:14

The Southern Door County School District will eliminate teaching positions and reduce sports programs after voters rejected a referendum last month. District officials announced the cuts during a school board meeting, saying the decision was unavoidable.

The referendum, which would have raised property taxes to fund operations, failed by a margin of 52 to 48 percent. Without the additional revenue, the district faces a budget shortfall of roughly $1.2 million for the upcoming school year.

Superintendent David Green said the district will cut six teaching positions across elementary and high school levels. Class sizes are expected to increase as a result. The district also plans to eliminate freshman sports, including football and basketball, and reduce funding for middle school athletics. Some extracurricular activities, such as clubs and after-school programs, will be scaled back or cut entirely.

"We have to make difficult choices," Green said. "We cannot continue spending money we do not have."

The cuts come as rural school districts across Wisconsin struggle with declining enrollment and rising costs. Southern Door has lost about 100 students over the past five years, and state funding has not kept pace with inflation.

Parents and community members voiced frustration at the meeting. Some said they were disappointed the referendum failed, while others argued the district should have done more to explain the need for the tax increase. The board plans to hold public forums in the coming weeks to discuss the budget and possible alternatives.

The district will finalize the cuts by the end of the school year.