District overview
Williams Bay School District
Funding structure, how it compares to peers, and where major projects stand.
How is Williams Bay funded and governed?
A five-member elected Board of Education governs the district's two schools (Williams Bay Elementary and Williams Bay Middle/High School) and works with District Administrator Dr. Bill White. The board meets on the second Monday of each month at 7 p.m. at the high school lecture center. The district gets no state equalization aid because of its high property wealth, so local property taxes pay about 73% of revenue and voters are asked for extra operating money through referendums.
Current referendum
A three-year operating referendum approved in April 2024 allows $1.25M, $1.5M and $1.75M above the state revenue limit. It ends June 30, 2027, and the district has levied only about 90-96% of the authority each year.
Requested renewal
The board asked voters on November 3, 2026 for a four-year, non-recurring operating referendum: $2.0M, $2.25M, $2.5M and $2.75M for 2027-28 through 2030-31. Administrators say it keeps the tax levy about level; the larger numbers reflect fewer students under the state formula.
Enrollment pressure
The district projects about 160 fewer school-age children living in the district over the next four years. Students from other districts fill open seats through open enrollment, and 15 students applied to leave for 2026-27.
Who decides
Board members are elected in April. Jack Lothian is president, Mark Schneider vice president, Ed Nichols clerk, Patrick Peyer treasurer and Darla Thiel is member-at-large.
Administrators describe the referendum as a stopgap rather than a fix and say the district will need to ask again. The documents do not state the dollar size of the full budget or the tax rate, and the referendum result was not in the collected documents.
Where the district stands
Rises to $2.75M in 2030-31.
Part of a 3-year $1.25M, $1.5M, $1.75M referendum.
Stated by the district business manager.
NCES count; context only.
Major projects
Four-year operating referendum
On the Nov. 3, 2026 ballotThe board approved the referendum resolutions on August 10, 2026 after working sessions since December 2025. If it fails, administrators say the district would need significant cuts and might return to voters in spring.
- Board first discusses a possible November 2026 operating referendum
- Administrators tell village trustees the district will seek a four-year referendum
- Board approves referendum resolutions 5-0
- Referendum election
Funding
Local property taxes above the state revenue limit
$2.0M, $2.25M, $2.5M, $2.75M over four years; administrators say tax impact is zero to minimal.
New playground areas
Nearly completeA new middle school play area (with a $50,000 Lions Club gift) and a 3K/4K playground are being built in summer and fall 2026, ahead of a planned ribbon-cutting.
- Board approves 3K/4K playground equipment up to $150,000
- District reports middle school playground near completion
Funding
Donations, PTO fundraising and district funds (3K/4K equipment up to $150,000)
Concrete work approved at up to $60,000.
Bell-to-bell student phone policy
In effect for 2026-27The board adopted Policy 443.5 on July 27, 2026 to meet state Act 42. It limits phones, earbuds and smart watches during the school day.
- First reading
- Board approves 5-0
- Student representatives report improved focus
Funding
Not applicable
No cost stated.
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Practical guides to school phone policies, district budgets, and administrator hiring.
Explore resources →Based on 47 official records: agendas and minutes posted in the district's public Google Drive folders, plus auto-captioned YouTube recordings of board meetings, from November 2025 to November 2026.
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