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District overview

Oostburg School District

Funding structure, how it compares to peers, and where major projects stand.

Editorial graphic for Oostburg School District
Editorial caption by Our School Board; base: Carl Hårleman · public-domain

How is Oostburg funded and governed?

Local taxes are covering more as state aid falls

A seven-member elected Board of Education governs the district's three schools (Oostburg Elementary, Middle and High School). The board meets the third Wednesday of each month at 6 p.m. in the high school Innovation Room and works with Superintendent Terry Hendrikse, who took over from Kevin Bruggink on July 1, 2026. Wisconsin funds districts through a revenue limit: state aid is paid first and local property taxes make up the rest, so when aid falls the local levy rises.

2026-27 tax levy

$7,043,028, up 10.37% from $6,381,285. About 8.13 points of the increase come from lower state aid and 1.47 points from higher private-school voucher costs, according to the superintendent.

State aid

Equalization aid is budgeted at $6.21 million for 2026-27, down from $6.73 million in 2025-26 and $7.21 million in 2024-25.

Students

The three-year average student count is 873, down from 896 last year and 915 the year before. Open enrollment from other districts brings in about $2.4 million.

Who decides

Board members serve staggered three-year terms elected each April (Chris Wolfert is president). Voters at the annual meeting each October authorize the tax levy and board pay.

The district's cost growth (about 3%) is outpacing its revenue growth (0.79%), but the documents do not show deficit spending or a request for a new operating referendum. Debt from an earlier referendum still adds $1.63 million to the levy.

Where the district stands

2026-27 school tax levyverified
$7,043,028

Up from $6,381,285 in 2025-26 (+10.37%).

2025-26 school tax levyverified
$6,381,285
Referendum debt levy, 2026-27verified
$1,632,192

Part of the total levy; repays voter-approved debt.

Equalization aid, 2026-27 final budgetverified
$6,206,582

Was $6,725,505 in 2025-26.

Open enrollment revenue, 2026-27verified
$2,406,206
Student count for funding (3-year average)verified
873 students

896 last year, 915 the year before.

Enrollment (federal data)context
1,000 students

NCES count; context only.

Major projects

Middle school secure entrance

Design approved

The board set aside up to $885,000 in September 2026 to move the main office and create a controlled visitor entrance at Oostburg Middle School. The district is also pursuing safety grants for the technology.

Next: Bidding is expected this fall or winter, with construction starting in summer 2027.
  1. Architect presents entrance options
  2. Board allocates up to $885,000

Funding

Capital expenditure fund (Fund 46); safety grants being pursued

Up to $885,000 allocated; final cost not yet in the documents.

Track and baseball field resurfacing

Finished fall 2026

In June 2026 the board added track and baseball field maintenance to its capital list and approved up to $135,000 and up to $70,000 for the work. The October 21 minutes report both projects complete.

Next: None scheduled; roof, flooring and piping work continue under the buildings and grounds coordinator.
  1. Board approves spending
  2. Reported complete

Funding

Capital improvement list (Fund 46)

Up to $205,000 approved in total.

Long-range planning and strategic plan

Starting

The long-range planning committee met October 7, 2026 to begin work on a district strategic plan and a possible community survey. Topics raised include homework loads and a common start time.

Next: The October 21 minutes list the next committee meeting date; no survey has been approved.
  1. Committee meets to begin strategic plan work
  2. Report to the full board

Funding

Not stated

No cost stated.

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Based on 32 official documents posted on the district's Board Meeting Documents page: agendas, minutes, annual meeting materials and a committee agenda from November 2025 to October 2026.

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