WISCONSIN — There were 89 total school referenda on the ballot for the April 1 election in Wisconsin.

A majority of the largest ones did not pass, results show. Many would have addressed budget deficits and building improvements, leaving those school districts with some uncertainty going forward.

Here's a look at what passed and what failed:

PASSED: Oshkosh Area School District

Voters decided the Oshkosh Area School District can go forward with a $197.8 million building referendum. The measure passed by only a couple hundred votes, with 13,958 saying "yes" and 13,487 saying "no."

The district will use the money to build a new, consolidated, middle school at the Shapiro site. It plans to then close South Park and Perry Tipler, going from three West Side middle schools to two. 

With the approved referendum funds, the school district said it would like to make additions and renovations at Franklin, Carl Traeger and Oakwood Elementary Schools. It will then close Roosevelt and Shapiro, going from seven West Side elementary schools to five. 

It also has plans to convert Perry Tipler Middle School into a pre-kindergarten center and recreation department. Additional funds will go toward installing air conditioning at Emmeline Cook, Lakeside and Read Elementary Schools and adding an auditorium at Oshkosh North High School. 

PASSED: Racine Unified School District

A $190 million operations referendum for the Racine Unified School District passed Tuesday by narrow margins. The money will be distributed over five years to fund operational expenditures, including: 

• Protecting class sizes and vital programs, including the Academies of Racine
• Attract and retain teachers and staff
• Invest in safety and security 

FAILED: Arrowhead Union

After a larger referendum failed to pass in Nov. 2024, Arrowhead Union once again failed to pass a $136.2 million building referendum. 

The referendum would have funded additions and renovations to the current North Campus building, consolidating it into one high school building. The South Campus building would have also been demolished. Additionally, the school district planned to use funds to make other site and athletic facility improvements.

FAILED: Sheboygan Falls School District

Sheboygan Falls School District had a $70 million building referendum on the ballot, with results showing a majority saying "yes" to the money. The district had a referendum fail to pass in Nov. 2024. 

The district said money acquired from the referendum would go toward renovations and expansions at its high school and elementary school, which would include security upgrades. 

FAILED: Baraboo School District

Voters rejected a $69.9 million Baraboo School District referendum on the spring ballot. Funds would have supported additions, renovations, safety improvements and maintenance upgrades at three of its aging elementary schools. Voters rejected a similar referendum in November.

The April referendum would have also supported a new full-day 4-year-old kindergarten program. 

FAILED: Beloit School District

Beloit School District put forth a $40 million referendum to its voters, but it ultimately failed by less than 150 votes Tuesday.

The school district said it will exceed its revenue limit by $9.17 million for the 2025-26 school year and by $14.12 million for the 2026-27 school year. It's also set to exceed its 2027-28 school year revenue limit by $16.95 million. 

Referendum funds would have supported operational and maintenance expenses, including student behavioral resources, student academic resources and compensation for teachers and staff. 

FAILED: Wausau School District

Voters rejected an $8 million referendum for Wausau School District. The referendum would have helped the district avoid a growing budget deficit, but the failure to pass it means the district faces some uncertainty.

Funds were also set to go toward attracting and retaining staff. The district said the referendum would have also allowed it to address ongoing maintenance needs, including roofing, HVAC/air conditioning, mass communication upgrades, cameras and energy efficiency. 

PASSED: Rhinelander School District

A $20 million Rhinelander School District operations referendum passed Tuesday. It will support ongoing and non-recurring operational expenses. 

The school district is set to exceed its revenue limit by $3 million per year for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 school years. It will then exceed the limit by $7 million per year for the 2027-28 and 2028-29 school years. The approved referendum will help with this deficit.

Other referendum results

• Burlington - PASSED
• Dodgeland - FAILED
• Elkhorn - FAILED
• Fond du Lac - FAILED
• Genoa City J2 Schools - PASSED
• Hudson - PASSED
• Hustisford - FAILED
• Lake Country - FAILED
• Lake Geneva J1 - PASSED
• Marinette - FAILED
• Oakfield - FAILED
• Port Washington-Saukville - PASSED
• Raymond - FAILED
• Salem - FAILED
• Silver Lake J1 - PASSED
• Waterford Graded J1 - PASSED
• Watertown Unified - FAILED
• Waupun Area - PASSED
• Wauwatosa - PASSED
• Whitewater Unified - PASSED
• Wilmot Union High School District - PASSED