Wisconsin school board races increasingly influenced by political parties and groups

MITCHELL SCHMIDT
Mar 26, 2024
Mar 26, 2024 Updated Apr 16, 2024

Facebook
Twitter
WhatsApp
SMS
Email
Print
Save

kAm(96? @77:4:2=D H:E9 E96 s6>@4C2E:4 !2CEJ @7 (:D4@?D:? C624965 @FE E@ {@5: $49@@= q@2C5 42?5:52E6 $2C29 #:AA @776C:?8 E@ DFAA@CE 96C 42>A2:8? =625:?8 FA E@ E96 pAC:= a DAC:?8 6=64E:@?[ E96 7:CDE\E:>6 42?5:52E6 H2D 96D:E2?E]k^Am

kAm&?=:<6 =68:D=2E:G6 2?5 DE2E6H:56 6=64E:@?D[ D49@@= 3@2C5 C246D 2C6 ?@?A2CE:D2? :? (:D4@?D:?] qFE E92E 92D?’E DE@AA65 A@=:E:42= A2CE:6D 2?5 A2CE:D2? 8C@FAD 7C@> 86EE:?8 :?G@=G65 :? 5@H?\32==@E C246D — AC@AA:?8 FA E96:C 49@D6? 42?5:52E6D E9C@F89 6?5@CD6>6?ED @C :?\<:?5 5@?2E:@?D :? E96 7@C> @7 7=J6CD @C 42>A2:8? C6D@FC46D =:<6 G@E6C =:DED]k^Am

People are also reading…

Lake Geneva holds off vote on proposed supper club
Robert G. Betzer
Milwaukee Brewers partner with new boutique in Lake Geneva
Lake Geneva considers changes to city’s tourism commission
Here's who’s running for Wisconsin governor in 2026
Impact of Walworth County tourism hits $1 billion mark
Man shoots deputy at Dodge County dog park, then fatally shoots himself, police say
Packers offensive lineman confident heading into 3rd year with position change
Lake Geneva Cruise Line conducts mailboat jumper tryouts
Gage Marine acquires Norton’s on Green Lake supper club
Lake Geneva to work with bus company during road project
Who will the Bucks take in the NBA Draft? These mock drafts have ideas
Wisconsin volleyball lands 1st commit of 2028 class with top-20 recruit
How did Brewers reliever Aaron Ashby get to 10-0 already? Here's an in-depth look
Crews battle algae bloom in Washington's newly repainted Reflecting Pool

kAm“x C62==J 5:5 E9:?< =@?8 2?5 92C5 23@FE H96E96C x H2D H:==:?8 E@ 2446AE 2?J EJA6 @7 6?5@CD6>6?E[ 3642FD6 x H2D 46CE2:? x H2D 8@:?8 E@ 86E 324<=2D9[” D2:5 #:AA[ 2DD:DE2?E 5:C64E@C 7@C E96 {2E:? p>6C:42?[ r2C:3362?[ 2?5 x36C:2? $EF5:6D AC@8C2> 2E &(\|25:D@?]k^Am

kAm#:AA[ ch[ :D @?6 @7 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>25:D@?]4@>^?6HD^=@42=^8@G6C?>6?E\A@=:E:4D^6=64E:@?D^42?5:52E6\B\2\=@5:\D49@@=\3@2C5^2CE:4=60ce2hffga\5cd`\``66\hfh6\33b6dagf6225]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmD:I 42?5:52E6D D66<:?8 E9C66 D62ED @? E96 3@2C5k^2m[ :?4=F5:?8 rC2:8 #] v:6D6[ :?4F>36?E %6CCJ w228[ $4@EE !:6CBF6E[ %96C6D2 '2=6?4:2 2?5 (:==:2> (:AA6C7FCE9]k^Am

kAm#:AA D2:5 D96 F=E:>2E6=J 2446AE65 2? :?\<:?5 5@?2E:@? 7C@> E96 DE2E6 A2CEJ E92E AC@G:565 2446DD E@ 2 >2:=:?8 =:DE @7 2C62 C6D:56?ED H9@ 92G6 9:DE@C:42==J G@E65 7@C s6>@4C2E:4 42?5:52E6D] {2E6C[ D96 2446AE65 2? @776C 7C@> s!( 7@C 2 >2:=6C 9:89=:89E:?8 96C 42>A2:8? 8@2=D]k^Am

kAm“x H2D E9:?<:?8 E9:D :D 2 8C62E @AA@CEF?:EJ E@ C6249 2 =@E >@C6 A6@A=6 H9@ 2C6 AC@323=J =:<6\>:?565 H9@ H@F=5 36 :?E6C6DE65 :? G@E:?8 7@C >6[” #:AA D2:5]k^Am

kAm%96 7=J6C :56?E:7:6D #:AA 2D 2 “AC@8C6DD:G6 42?5:52E6 7@C {@5: D49@@=D” 2?5 9:89=:89ED E9C66 42>A2:8? 8@2=Di 6?DFC:?8 D49@@=D 92G6 AC@A6C 7F?5:?8 2?5 C6D@FC46D[ C64CF:E:?8 2?5 C6E2:?:?8 E62496CD 2?5 AC6A2C:?8 DEF56?ED 7@C DF446DD 27E6C 8C25F2E:@?]k^Am

kAm(9:=6 ?@?6 @7 E9@D6 8@2=D 2C6 6IAC6DD=J A2CE:D2?[ 76==@H {@5: C6D:56?E |@?:42 $:>AD@? D2:5 D96 H2D EC@F3=65 3J E6IE @? E96 >2:=6C :?5:42E:?8 :E H2D “A2:5 7@C 3J E96 s6>@4C2E:4 !2CEJ @7 (:D4@?D:?]”k^Am

kAm“x AC@323=J 5@ G@E6 >@C6 #6AF3=:42? 2D x’> @=56C 2?5 :E 4@?46C?D >6 :7 2 42?5:52E6 :D 36:?8 AC@>@E65 3J 2 A2CEJ[ H96E96C @C ?@E E96J 2D<65 7@C :E[” $:>AD@? D2:5] “%92E 4@?46C?D >6 :7 E96 A2CEJ :D 86EE:?8 :?G@=G65 :? E96 6=64E:@?[ 2?5 x H@F=5 D2J E92E 23@FE 2 #6AF3=:42? 42?5:52E6 E@@]”k^Am

kA 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\=:?<Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>25:D@?]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^ec3ddd5c\6gfh\``66\hf`g\`b46g`af`444Qm!C6D:56?E y@6 q:56?VD 42>A2:8? 4@\492:C E@ 9:89=:89E :?7C2DECF4EFC6 AC@;64ED 24C@DD (:D4@?D:?k^2mk^Am

k9am!2CE:D2? DFAA@CEk^9am

kAm!2CE:D2? :?G@=G6>6?E :? D49@@= 3@2C5 6=64E:@?D :D ?@E9:?8 ?6H :? (:D4@?D:?[ 3FE |:4926= u@C5[ &(\~D9<@D9 2DD@4:2E6 AC@76DD@C @7 AF3=:4 25>:?:DEC2E:@?[ D2:5 :E’D 366? 2 8C@H:?8 EC6?5 2D ?2E:@?2= 4F=EFC6 H2C :DDF6D =:<6 C246[ 3@@< 32?D 2?5 86?56C :56?E:EJ EC:4<=6 5@H? :?E@ =@42= 42>A2:8?D] !2CE:D2? :?E6C6DE :? D49@@= 3@2C5 C246D 2=D@ ;F>A65 :? E96 J62CD 7@==@H:?8 E96 r~'xs\`h @FE3C62< 2D D49@@= 5:DEC:4ED 8C2AA=65 H:E9 E@A:4D =:<6 >2D< >2?52E6D 2?5 C6>@E6 =62C?:?8]k^Am

kAm“%96C6’D 46CE2:?=J 366? 2 492?86 7C@> :E 36:?8 D@446C >@>D[ HC6DE=:?8 A2C6?ED 2?5 A6@A=6 E92E 2C6 :?E6C6DE65 :? E96 DA@CED E62>D[ E@ >@C6 6IA=:4:E=J E96 s6>@4C2E:4 !2CEJ 2?5 #6AF3=:42? !2CEJ E92E 2C6 :?G@=G65 :? @FC =@42= 6=64E:@?D[” u@C5 D2:5]k^Am

kAmp? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^32==@EA65:2]@C8^(:D4@?D:?0D49@@=03@2C506=64E:@?D[0a_acQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm2?2=JD:D @7 A2CE:D2? 6?5@CD6>6?ED 3J q2==@EA65:2k^2m[ H9:49 EC24<D 6=64E:@? 52E2[ 7@F?5 E92E bb A2CE:D2? 8C@FAD @C :?5:G:5F2=D 92G6 6?5@CD65 `h_ 42?5:52E6D CF??:?8 7@C ?@?A2CE:D2? D49@@= 3@2C5 D62ED :? (:D4@?D:?’D pAC:= a 6=64E:@?]k^Am

kAmpD @7 |@?52J[ ff D49@@= 3@2C5 42?5:52E6D 92G6 366? 324<65 3J #6AF3=:42? 8C@FAD[ :?4=F5:?8 G2C:@FD 4@F?EJ A2CE:6D[ H9:=6 ag 42?5:52E6D 92G6 366? 6?5@CD65 3J s6>@4C2E:4 8C@FAD[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 52E2 AC@G:565 3J q2==@EA65:2]k^Am

kAmx? 255:E:@?[ }6H *@C<\32D65 ?2E:@?2= 4@?D6CG2E:G6 8C@FA E96 `ffe !C@;64E !pr 92D 324<65 ac D49@@= 3@2C5 42?5:52E6D :? E96 DE2E6] &?:@? @C82?:K2E:@? pu{\rx~[ H9:49 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]@A6?D64C6ED]@C8^@C8D^27=\4:@^DF>>2CJn:5l5_______ggQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm=2C86=J DFAA@CED s6>@4C2E:4 42?5:52E6Dk^2m[ 2?5 :ED =@42= 3C2?496D 92G6 6?5@CD65 de D49@@= 3@2C5 42?5:52E6D[ H9:=6 E96 =:36C2=\=62?:?8 (:D4@?D:? t5F42E:@? pDD@4:2E:@? r@F?4:=[ E96 =2C86DE (:D4@?D:? AF3=:4 D49@@= E62496CD F?:@?[ 92D DFAA@CE65 fc 42?5:52E6D CF??:?8 7@C =@42= D49@@= 3@2C5D]k^Am

kAmx? 2 D6A2C2E6 2?2=JD:D @7 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^32==@EA65:2]@C8^r@?7=:4ED0:?0D49@@=03@2C506=64E:@?D[0a_a`\a_abQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmD49@@= 3@2C5 6=64E:@?D 4@?5F4E65 36EH66? a_a` 2?5 a_abk^2m[ q2==@EA65:2 :56?E:7:65 `ca D49@@= 3@2C5 6=64E:@?D :? (:D4@?D:? :? H9:49 42?5:52E6D E@@< 2 DE2?46 @? H6586 :DDF6D =:<6 9@H C246 :D E2F89E[ 9@H D49@@=D @C 5:DEC:4ED C6DA@?565 E@ E96 A2?56>:4[ @C D49@@=\C6=2E65 D6I 2?5 86?56C :DDF6D] %92E AFE E96 DE2E6 D64@?5 369:?5 @?=J r2=:7@C?:2[ H96C6 42?5:52E6D :? b_f D49@@= 3@2C5 C246D E@@< 2 DE2?46 @? E9@D6 :DDF6D]k^Am

kA 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\=:?<Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>25:D@?]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^a4c432he\6gfe\``66\ggh4\`7h7e765`fa7Qm(:D4@?D:? r@?8C6DD>2? |:<6 v2==2896C E@ DE6A 5@H? 62C=Jk^2mk^Am

k9amr=@F5:?8 G@E6CD’ A6C46AE:@?k^9am

kAm“(96? J@F :?EC@5F46 6IA=:4:E A2CE:D2?D9:A :?E@ 2 ?@?A2CE:D2? 3@2C5[ E92E’D 8@:?8 E@ :?4C62D6 4@?7=:4E[” u@C5 D2:5] “p?5 E92E’D 366? D9@H? E@ 36 E96 }@] ` ?682E:G6 :>A24E@C @? @G6C2== 3@2C5 A6C7@C>2?46[ 3642FD6 E96C6 :D E9:D 255:E:@?2= 32CC:6C E92E ?@H 6I:DED 36EH66? 6=64E65 @77:4:2=D 2?5 E96 A6@A=6 E96J C6AC6D6?E]”k^Am

kAmx?7FD:?8 A2CE:D2? :?E6C6DED :?E@ D49@@= 3@2C5 42>A2:8?D 2=D@ 4=@F5D G@E6CD’ A6C46AE:@? @7 H92E 2 D49@@= 3@2C5 >6>36C 24EF2==J 5@6D[ H9:49 :D D6E A@=:4J 7@C E96 5:DEC:4E[ 2D @AA@D65 E@ >2?286 52J\E@\52J @A6C2E:@?D]k^Am

kAm“%96C6’D ?@E 2 s6>@4C2E:4 H2J E@ >2<6 D49@@= 3@2C5 564:D:@?D G6CDFD 2 #6AF3=:42? H2J[ E96C6’D @?=J 2 >6C:E\32D65 H2J 2?5 2 ?@?\>6C:E\32D65 H2J[” D2:5 |@C5642: {66[ 2 AC@76DD@C 6>6C:EFD 2E &(\|:=H2F<66] “%96C6’D 2 566A =@8:4 E@ E92E 2AAC@249] xE’D ;FDE E92E :E’D 4C24<65[ :E’D 72==:?8 2A2CE[ :E’D =@DE :ED G2=:5:EJ 5F6 E@ E96 A2CE:D2?D9:A @7 (:D4@?D:? A@=:E:4D E96D6 52JD]”k^Am

kAm#:AA D2:5 “E96C6’D ?@ D64C6E 286?52” E@ 96C 42>A2:8? 7@C E96 {@5: $49@@= q@2C5 2?5 D96’D H:==:?8 E@ H@C< H:E9 2== >6>36CD @7 E96 3@2C5 :7 6=64E65[ C682C5=6DD @7 A2CEJ 277:=:2E:@?]k^Am

kAm“(96? :E 4@>6D 5@H? E@ :E[ H92E C62==J >2EE6CD :D H92E’D 8@@5 7@C E96 49:=5C6? :? E96 D49@@= 5:DEC:4E 2?5 E96 A6@A=6 H9@ H@C< E96C6[” #:AA D2:5]k^Am

kA 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\=:?<Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>25:D@?]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^22755dg_\6gd2\``66\2`ca\_fb4dd3h6c53Qms:DEC:4E 2EE@C?6JD 564=:?6 E@ 492C86 %CF>A 4@>>:EE66[ (:D4@?D:? DE2E6 C6AC6D6?E2E:G6 @G6C 2==6865 7F?5:?8 D496>6k^2mk^Am

kAms6>@4C2E:4 !2CEJ @7 (:D4@?D:? DA@<6DA6CD@? y@6 ~D=F?5 D2:5 E96 A2CEJ @776CD DFAA@CE E@ 42?5:52E6D H:E9 D92C65 G2=F6D FA 2?5 5@H? E96 32==@E 3J AC@G:5:?8 C6D@FC46D C2?8:?8 7C@> >2:=:?8 =:DED E@ >2E6C:2=D 2?5 7=J6CD] r@F?EJ A2CE:6D 2=D@ @7E6? 86E :?G@=G65 :? DF49 C246D[ 96 25565]k^Am

kAm“uC@> E96 8@G6C?@C @? 5@H?[ H6’C6 2 A2CEJ E92E 36=:6G6D H92E’D 36DE 7@C @FC <:5D :D 36DE 7@C @FC DE2E6[” ~D=F?5 D2:5] “x E9:?< H6 ECJ E@ =:7E FA 42?5:52E6D 2?5 42FD6D … E92E =:G6 3J E92E 4C65@]”k^Am

kAm|2EE u:D96C[ DA@<6DA6CD@? 7@C E96 #6AF3=:42? !2CEJ @7 (:D4@?D:?[ D2:5 E96 DE2E6 A2CEJ :D ?@E AC@G:5:?8 6?5@CD6>6?ED @C 5@?2E:@?D E@ D49@@= 3@2C5 42?5:52E6D E9:D 6=64E:@? 4J4=6[ E9@F89 4@F?EJ A2CE:6D 2C6 A6C>:EE65 E@ 5@ D@]k^Am

k9amq@E9 A2CE:6D D66 2C>D C246k^9am

kAm$A62<:?8 H:E9 4@?D6CG2E:G6 E2=< D9@H 9@DE k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^?6HDE2=<``b_]:962CE]4@>^762EFC65^4@>>@?\D6?D6\46?EC2=^E23^A@542DEDQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qms2? ~’s@??6== =2DE H66<k^2m[ %6CCJ s:EEC:49[ 492:C @7 E96 (2F<6D92 r@F?EJ #6AF3=:42? !2CEJ[ A@:?E65 E@ DF446DD6D D66? H:E9 E96 4@F?EJ’D (:D#65 x?:E:2E:G6[ H9:49 =2F?4965 :? a_a_ 2D 2 4@F?EJH:56 677@CE E@ 6?5@CD6 2?5 AC@>@E6 4@?D6CG2E:G6 42?5:52E6D :? 5@H?\32==@E C246D]k^Am

kAm%96 4@F?EJ A2CEJ 92D 6?5@CD65 >@C6 E92? c_ D49@@= 3@2C5 42?5:52E6D :? E96 pAC:= a 6=64E:@?[ 244@C5:?8 E@ q2==@EA65:2’D 2?2=JD:D]k^Am

kAmx? E96 (2F<6D92 $49@@= q@2C5 C246[ 7@C 6I2>A=6[ 7:G6 42?5:52E6D 2C6 CF??:?8 7@C E9C66 D62ED] %9C66 42?5:52E6D :? E92E C246 92G6 366? 324<65 3J E96 (2F<6D92 r@F?EJ #6AF3=:42? !2CEJ[ H9:=6 E96 @E96C EH@ 92G6 366? C64@>>6?565 3J E96 (2F<6D92 r@F?EJ s6>@4C2E:4 !2CEJ]k^Am

kAmp ?@E6 7C@> (2F<6D92 r@F?EJ s6>@4C2E:4 !2CEJ 492:C |2EE |2C6?@ @? E96 A2CEJ’D H63D:E6 DE2E6D E92E 2 C64@>>6?52E:@? :D ?@E 2? 6?5@CD6>6?E 2?5 324<65 42?5:52E6D 2C6 “>6C6=J 2 36EE6C @AE:@? 8:G6? E96 >2DD:G6 5C:G6 3J E96 (2F<6D92 r@F?EJ v~! 2?5 E96:C (:D#65 AC@8C2>]”k^Am

kA 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\=:?<Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>25:D@?]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^a`d4f46e\6fgg\``66\2d34\3b_`3dgc`ebbQm$A62<6C #@3:? '@D 492==6?86D C642==[ 2DD6CED 677@CE VA=28F65 H:E9 7C2F5 2?5 4C:>:?2=:EJVk^2mk^Am

kAms:EEC:49 D2:5 E96 (:D#65 x?:E:2E:G6 92D 3@@DE65 EFC?@FE 2>@?8 #6AF3=:42? G@E6CD 2?5 C6DF=E65 :? 4@?D6CG2E:G6\324<65 42?5:52E6D H:??:?8 >@C6 E92? gdT @7 C246D :? E96 4@F?EJ @G6C E96 =2DE 7@FC J62CD] w6 D2:5 96’D AFD965 E@ 6IA2?5 E96 :?:E:2E:G6 DE2E6H:56 3FE H:E9 =:EE=6 DF446DD]k^Am

kAm“%9:D :D D@>6E9:?8 x’G6 366? ECJ:?8 E@ 492>A:@? 2?5 CF? FA E96 7=28A@=6[ :D E96 724E E92E E96 s6>@4C2ED[ E@ E96:C 4C65:E[ 92G6 2 A6C>2?6?E :?7C2DECF4EFC6 :? E96 DE2E6 E92E :D H@C<:?8 ac^f[” s:EEC:49 D2:5] “(6 E6?5 E@ E9:?< DAC:?8E:>6 :D E96 E:>6 E@ 86E :?G@=G65 7@C 2 }@G6>36C 6=64E:@? 2?5 7C2?<=J[ E92E :D AC6EEJ =2E6]”k^Am

kAm~D=F?5 D2:5 E96 s6>@4C2E:4 !2CEJ @7 (:D4@?D:?’D 2AAC@249 :D 2 “E@A\E@\3@EE@> @C82?:K:?8 677@CE” E92E’D 3F:=E E@ @A6C2E6 2== J62C =625:?8 FA E@ E96 ?6IE 86?6C2= 6=64E:@?]k^Am

kAm“%96 H@C< E92E H6 5@ :? @FC DAC:?8 C246D[ J6D :E :D :? DFAA@CE @7 E96D6 =@42= 42?5:52E6D[ 3FE :E’D 2=D@ :? DFAA@CE @7 E96 H@C< E92E H6’C6 8@:?8 E@ 36 5@:?8 E@H2C5 }@G6>36C 2D H6==[” 96 D2:5]k^Am