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For one Wisconsin school district, April referendum means everything

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SPRING ELECTION | SCHOOL REFERENDUMS

For one Wisconsin school district, April referendum means everything

OLIVIA HERKEN
Feb 19, 2023
Feb 19, 2023 Updated Aug 14, 2023

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In Wisconsin's public school funding crisis, referendums have turned into lifelines

Residents are proud of the Adams-Friendship community, including its theater in the high school's Fine Arts Center. The community has a local theater group, a school band, choir and musical, and a dance team that made it to state this year.

AMBER ARNOLD STATE JOURNAL

In Wisconsin's public school funding crisis, referendums have turned into lifelines

Art teacher Leah Keller goes over a lesson with third grade students at Adams-Friendship Elementary School on Feb. 15, 2023.

AMBER ARNOLD STATE JOURNAL

In Wisconsin's public school funding crisis, referendums have turned into lifelines

Students come in from recess at Adams-Friendship Middle School on Feb. 15, 2023.

AMBER ARNOLD STATE JOURNAL

In Wisconsin's public school funding crisis, referendums have turned into lifelines

Welding hoods are lined up next to metals and auto teacher Daryl Bergen’s desk as students work in the classroom at Adams-Friendship High School.

AMBER ARNOLD STATE JOURNAL

In Wisconsin's public school funding crisis, referendums have turned into lifelines

Roxanne Irey, principal at Adams-Friendship Elementary School, greets students in the hallway as they head to lunch on Feb. 15, 2023.

AMBER ARNOLD STATE JOURNAL

In Wisconsin's public school funding crisis, referendums have turned into lifelines

Tom Wermuth, Adams-Friendship School District administrator, left, tries microgreens grown by students of Becky Grabarski, agriculture, food and natural resources teacher, with high school principal Kevin Moore, center, in the high school's green house.

AMBER ARNOLD STATE JOURNAL

In Wisconsin's public school funding crisis, referendums have turned into lifelines

Main Street in downtown Adams, Wis., Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023.

AMBER ARNOLD STATE JOURNAL

In Wisconsin's public school funding crisis, referendums have turned into lifelines

If the Adams-Friendship School District doesn't pass its referendum in April, the school could turn to a "bread and butter" education because of a lack of funding, cutting all but the basics. This garage attached to the high school's auto classroom lets students get hands-on experience.

AMBER ARNOLD STATE JOURNAL

In Wisconsin's public school funding crisis, referendums have turned into lifelines

"It would just be disastrous for our kids," Adams-Friendship Administrator Tom Wermuth said of the possibilities of dissolving the district due to a lack of funding. Students are seen here leaving for the day at Adams-Friendship Middle School.

AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL

In Wisconsin's public school funding crisis, referendums have turned into lifelines

Adams-Friendship High School on Feb. 15, 2023.

AMBER ARNOLD STATE JOURNAL

In Wisconsin's public school funding crisis, referendums have turned into lifelines

Becky Grabarski, agriculture, food and natural resources teacher, talks about the experience students get taking care of animals, including sheep and their lambs on loan from a local alumni family, at Adams-Friendship High School.

AMBER ARNOLD STATE JOURNAL

In Wisconsin's public school funding crisis, referendums have turned into lifelines

Crystal Holmes, assistant principal at Adams-Friendship Middle School, visits with students during lunch at the school.

AMBER ARNOLD STATE JOURNAL

In Wisconsin's public school funding crisis, referendums have turned into lifelines

Some families are already weighing options for if the Adams-Friendship School District doesn't pass its referendum in April. Because of funding, the district may have to dissolve or pare back schooling to the basics, cutting things like extracurriculars and school counselors.

AMBER ARNOLD STATE JOURNAL

In Wisconsin's public school funding crisis, referendums have turned into lifelines

Danna Peterson, Adams-Friendship district librarian, reads to students in the library at the elementary school.

AMBER ARNOLD STATE JOURNAL

In Wisconsin's public school funding crisis, referendums have turned into lifelines

Students get ready for lunch and recess at Adams-Friendship Middle School on Feb. 15, 2023.

AMBER ARNOLD STATE JOURNAL

In Wisconsin's public school funding crisis, referendums have turned into lifelines

Special education teacher, Tammie Alekna, left, leads her students back to the classroom after visiting the library at Adams-Friendship Middle School. She's "tremendously" worried for her students. She teaches them not only the basics like reading and math, but also survival skills, like how to grocery shop or cross the street.

AMBER ARNOLD STATE JOURNAL

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OLIVIA HERKEN

In Wisconsin's public school funding crisis, referendums have turned into lifelines — Social studies teacher Kelsey Johnson goes through a lesson with students at Adams-Friendship High School. Johnson’s mom, Dana, teaches fourth grade at the district’s elementary school. If the district doesn't pass its referendum this April, $2.5 million in budget cuts will be made for next school year.
AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL

Governor Tony Evers speaks ahead of President Joe Biden in Deforest.

In Wisconsin's public school funding crisis, referendums have turned into lifelines — Technology education teacher John Vonwald displays a cutting board a student is making. Electives like wood shop could be cut if voters reject a referendum to better fund the district.
AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL

In Wisconsin's public school funding crisis, referendums have turned into lifelines — Music teacher Lori Mullendore instructs third-grade students as they sing and dance to “Tutti Frutti” at Adams-Friendship Elementary School.
AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL

In Wisconsin's public school funding crisis, referendums have turned into lifelines — Freshmen Naomi Lukas, from left, and Gwen Gransee and senior Mara Kirsenlohr work on a hand sewing project in the intro to home and fashion class at Adams-Friendship High School.
AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL

In Wisconsin's public school funding crisis, referendums have turned into lifelines — Kindergarteners Alice Klemenston, left, and Maddilynn Wenzel play in the gym while dressed for the 100th day of school celebration Wednesday at Adams-Friendship Elementary School.
AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL

In Wisconsin's public school funding crisis, referendums have turned into lifelines — Students in Jessica Matteson’s high school art class work on monochromatic paintings. As one of the largest school districts in the state, geographically, if Adams-Friendship dissolves, its students would be scattered among surrounding districts.
AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL

Photos: Adams-Friendship School District

In Wisconsin's public school funding crisis, referendums have turned into lifelines — Students in Jessica Matteson’s high school art class work on monochromatic paintings. As one of the largest school districts in the state, geographically, if Adams-Friendship dissolves, its students would be scattered among surrounding districts.
AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL

In Wisconsin's public school funding crisis, referendums have turned into lifelines — Social studies teacher Kelsey Johnson goes through a lesson with students at Adams-Friendship High School. Johnson’s mom, Dana, teaches fourth grade at the district’s elementary school. If the district doesn't pass its referendum this April, $2.5 million in budget cuts will be made for next school year.
AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL

In Wisconsin's public school funding crisis, referendums have turned into lifelines — Technology education teacher John Vonwald displays a cutting board a student is making. Electives like wood shop could be cut if voters reject a referendum to better fund the district.
AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL

In Wisconsin's public school funding crisis, referendums have turned into lifelines — Art teacher Leah Keller goes over a lesson with third grade students at Adams-Friendship Elementary School on Feb. 15, 2023.
AMBER ARNOLD STATE JOURNAL

In Wisconsin's public school funding crisis, referendums have turned into lifelines — Welding hoods are lined up next to metals and auto teacher Daryl Bergen’s desk as students work in the classroom at Adams-Friendship High School.
AMBER ARNOLD STATE JOURNAL

In Wisconsin's public school funding crisis, referendums have turned into lifelines — Freshmen Naomi Lukas, from left, and Gwen Gransee and senior Mara Kirsenlohr work on a hand sewing project in the intro to home and fashion class at Adams-Friendship High School.
AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL

In Wisconsin's public school funding crisis, referendums have turned into lifelines — Music teacher Lori Mullendore instructs third-grade students as they sing and dance to “Tutti Frutti” at Adams-Friendship Elementary School.
AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL

In Wisconsin's public school funding crisis, referendums have turned into lifelines — Students come in from recess at Adams-Friendship Middle School on Feb. 15, 2023.
AMBER ARNOLD STATE JOURNAL

In Wisconsin's public school funding crisis, referendums have turned into lifelines — Tom Wermuth, Adams-Friendship School District administrator, left, tries microgreens grown by students of Becky Grabarski, agriculture, food and natural resources teacher, with high school principal Kevin Moore, center, in the high school's green house.
AMBER ARNOLD STATE JOURNAL

In Wisconsin's public school funding crisis, referendums have turned into lifelines — Roxanne Irey, principal at Adams-Friendship Elementary School, greets students in the hallway as they head to lunch on Feb. 15, 2023.
AMBER ARNOLD STATE JOURNAL

In Wisconsin's public school funding crisis, referendums have turned into lifelines — Main Street in downtown Adams, Wis., Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023.
AMBER ARNOLD STATE JOURNAL

In Wisconsin's public school funding crisis, referendums have turned into lifelines — "It would just be disastrous for our kids," Adams-Friendship Administrator Tom Wermuth said of the possibilities of dissolving the district due to a lack of funding. Students are seen here leaving for the day at Adams-Friendship Middle School.
AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL

In Wisconsin's public school funding crisis, referendums have turned into lifelines — If the Adams-Friendship School District doesn't pass its referendum in April, the school could turn to a "bread and butter" education because of a lack of funding, cutting all but the basics. This garage attached to the high school's auto classroom lets students get hands-on experience.
AMBER ARNOLD STATE JOURNAL

In Wisconsin's public school funding crisis, referendums have turned into lifelines — Kindergarteners Alice Klemenston, left, and Maddilynn Wenzel play in the gym while dressed for the 100th day of school celebration Wednesday at Adams-Friendship Elementary School.
AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL

In Wisconsin's public school funding crisis, referendums have turned into lifelines — Becky Grabarski, agriculture, food and natural resources teacher, talks about the experience students get taking care of animals, including sheep and their lambs on loan from a local alumni family, at Adams-Friendship High School.
AMBER ARNOLD STATE JOURNAL

In Wisconsin's public school funding crisis, referendums have turned into lifelines — Crystal Holmes, assistant principal at Adams-Friendship Middle School, visits with students during lunch at the school.
AMBER ARNOLD STATE JOURNAL

In Wisconsin's public school funding crisis, referendums have turned into lifelines — Some families are already weighing options for if the Adams-Friendship School District doesn't pass its referendum in April. Because of funding, the district may have to dissolve or pare back schooling to the basics, cutting things like extracurriculars and school counselors.
AMBER ARNOLD STATE JOURNAL

In Wisconsin's public school funding crisis, referendums have turned into lifelines — Danna Peterson, Adams-Friendship district librarian, reads to students in the library at the elementary school.
AMBER ARNOLD STATE JOURNAL

In Wisconsin's public school funding crisis, referendums have turned into lifelines — Students get ready for lunch and recess at Adams-Friendship Middle School on Feb. 15, 2023.
AMBER ARNOLD STATE JOURNAL

In Wisconsin's public school funding crisis, referendums have turned into lifelines — Special education teacher, Tammie Alekna, left, leads her students back to the classroom after visiting the library at Adams-Friendship Middle School. She's "tremendously" worried for her students. She teaches them not only the basics like reading and math, but also survival skills, like how to grocery shop or cross the street.
AMBER ARNOLD STATE JOURNAL

In Wisconsin's public school funding crisis, referendums have turned into lifelines — Adams-Friendship High School on Feb. 15, 2023.
AMBER ARNOLD STATE JOURNAL

In Wisconsin's public school funding crisis, referendums have turned into lifelines — Residents are proud of the Adams-Friendship community, including its theater in the high school's Fine Arts Center. The community has a local theater group, a school band, choir and musical, and a dance team that made it to state this year.
AMBER ARNOLD STATE JOURNAL

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