District overview
Chilton School District
Funding structure, how it compares to peers, and where major projects stand.
How is Chilton funded and governed?
A five-member elected Board of Education governs the district's elementary, middle and high schools and works with Superintendent Dan Marien, who started in July 2026. The board meets the third Monday of each month at 6 p.m. in the high school community room, with finance, buildings and grounds, education, policy and co-curricular committees meeting beforehand. Under the state revenue limit, state aid is paid first and local property taxes cover the rest.
2026-27 levies
Electors were asked to approve $4,236,557 for operations, $3,923,225 for building debt and $334,000 for community programs, a total of $8,493,782.
Debt
About 46% of the proposed levy repays existing building debt from past construction. The October 15 finance committee agenda lists the debt service levy.
Shared community facilities
The levy for community programs supports the pool, weight room, the Engler Center for the Performing Arts, crossing guards and a school liaison officer. Friends of the Engler Center donated equipment and labor worth about $169,000 in 2025.
Who decides
Board members serve three-year terms elected each April. Dr. Anna Waldron is president, Terry Criter vice president, David Juckem clerk, Jerry Kolbe treasurer, and Austin Kopitzke was seated in April 2026.
The documents do not give last year's levy, enrollment trends beyond a third-Friday count table that was attached but not collected, or the size of the full budget, so year-over-year change cannot be shown here.
Where the district stands
Sum of three resolutions: $4,236,557 + $3,923,225 + $334,000.
About 46% of the total levy.
$81,859.91 equipment plus $87,596.17 donated labor.
Major projects
Superintendent transition
New superintendent in placeThe board accepted Superintendent Susan Kaphingst's retirement in January 2026, ran a search with Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates and welcomed Dan Marien in July. A new principal, Matt Bertram, also joined for 2026-27.
- Board accepts superintendent's retirement effective June 30
- Special meeting on search survey results
- Special meeting for superintendent interviews
- Board welcomes Superintendent Marien
Funding
General fund
Search and contract costs are not stated in the collected documents.
Wrestling room, roof and driveway work
Under committee reviewBuildings and grounds committee agendas list a wrestling room update and financing, roof replacement or repair, and front and elementary driveway work, and the Engler Center overhead door.
- Buildings and grounds committee lists roof replacement and wrestling room
- Finance committee lists wrestling room financing
Funding
Not stated
The October 15 finance agenda lists 'Wrestling Room Financing'; amounts are not in the collected documents.
Act 89 policies
Adopted Sept. 21, 2026The policy committee waived a second reading in August, and the full board approved the Act 89 policies on September 21.
- Second reading waived; approval set for September 21
- Board approves Act 89 policies
Funding
Not applicable
No cost stated.
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Explore resources →Based on 63 official postings on the district's Board Agendas & Minutes, Committee Agendas and News pages: board and committee agendas, approved minutes for several meetings, the annual meeting agenda and election notices, from November 2025 to November 2026.
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