(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
TWIN LAKES, Wis. — With an operational referendum already scheduled for the April 7, 2026 ballot, the Twin Lakes School Board used its regular meeting Wednesday to review branding, messaging, and financial context materials tied to the upcoming vote, including a detailed presentation outlining staffing cuts and cost-saving measures already implemented by the district.
The referendum has already been approved by the board and will go before voters this spring. Wednesday’s discussion focused on how the district plans to communicate information to residents ahead of the election, including proposed branding, logo concepts, a dedicated referendum webpage, and plans for community mailers and public informational meetings.
The referendum would ask voters to approve exceeding the state revenue limit by $800,000 per year for four years, beginning with the 2026–2027 school year, for a total of $3.2 million. District officials said the additional funding would be used for non-recurring operational and maintenance expenses as the district faces ongoing budget pressure and uncertainty over long-term state aid.
(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
As part of the presentation, the district administrator detailed significant staffing reductions already made in recent years. During the 2024–2025 school year, the district employed 38.5 contracted staff members. Prior to the 2025–2026 school year, the district reduced 11 positions, contracted out speech services, and cut 29.3% of its contracted staff. Officials noted those figures do not include paraprofessionals, whose staffing levels are driven by student needs and individualized education programs. Two contracted staff members were later rehired due to increased student needs and enrollment growth in the spring of 2025.
According to the presentation, staffing levels are now “running at a bare minimum,” making it difficult for District Administrator Bob Antholine (D) to recommend further reductions without impacting educational services. The presentation also outlined additional cost-saving considerations, including reducing the district administrator position, which currently operates at 50%, and potentially restructuring it into a combined principal/district administrator role. Antholine serves as district administrator for both the Twin Lakes Lakewood School District and the Randall School District.
(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
Longer-term options were also discussed. District officials said consolidation remains a possibility if the referendum does not pass, but noted that an initial financial review conducted with BAIRD found consolidation would not be fiscally beneficial for the community or students over a five-year period. Administrators added that while potential state legislation could increase consolidation incentives, any such move would require a new study. Dissolution of the district was listed as an option but was explicitly described as not being recommended at this time.
Board members also discussed the limitations of one-time grants and short-term funding sources, noting they do not resolve the district’s structural budget challenges. District officials said the district has relied on fund balance reserves to remain stable but cautioned that reserves can only delay financial pressures rather than eliminate them.
(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
Following the meeting, School Board Member Amanda Hahn spoke informally with Kenosha County Eye and said the April 2026 vote will mark the first time the Twin Lakes School District has asked voters to approve an operational referendum.
Separately, district records show that voters previously approved a facilities renovation referendum in 2014 by a wide margin. That measure was limited to building improvements and did not provide funding for day-to-day operations.
District officials said multiple informational meetings are planned ahead of the April election, with tentative dates discussed for late January, February, March, and early April. Those sessions are intended to provide residents with detailed financial information and opportunities to ask questions before voting.
The Twin Lakes School District is expected to continue refining its informational materials and public outreach as the April 7 referendum vote approaches.
13 Responses
Trevor Wilmot has quietly put a $1.9 million per year 4 year referendum on the ballot. The current one is $800k per year. Tax greed is growing……disgusting
Yes and No.
There are over 2,000 properties that receive a tax bill from / for Trevor Wilmot School.
Yet direct communications by the school are limited to just residents that have children in school.
Meaning if you are a parent or grandparent that once had a child in that school you no longer receive emails as announcements come out.
Sure there was a press release but those get looked over or missed by the general public.
By design schools work towards communicating only with households that have children in the schools. Those are the ones most likely to vote yes.
Pay attention to the local news sites for local news information.
Tax greed? These teachers aren’t getting rich and if anything should be getting a raise.
Consolidation should be seriously discussed with all the WUHS feeders falling under one superintendent, business manager, one school board, etc.
Which then dilutes representation. How stupid.
Twin Lakes seeks $3.2 million while Trevor Wilmot wants $6.8 million. Both are for 4 years. Trevor Wilmot’s referendum is clearly tax greed. Consolidation would be a great start to cut the fat, literally.
Here’s a thought: CUT SPENDING.
Let’s start with the highest salaries.
Did you read the article? The district has already made major staffing cuts & they are discussing cutting/combining an admin position. Cutting any further would definitely not be best for the students!
It would be best for the majority of people. I looked at the expenditures a couple months ago and saw us (taxpayers) buying things that employees should be buying for themselves. Why should we supply desk items or staff furniture?
Do employees provide their own furniture? You really think that?
We have 3 grade schools within a 3 mile radius, which have all recently undergone major building additions, while enrollment has gone down. It’s time to consider consolidating more than the administration.
Let’s see BAIRD supporting financial data, analysis and conclusion for why consolidating District sould not be considered?
Wondering if admins salaries has been posted? Has there been an increase in their salaries in the last few years? All schools put referendums on ballots and it is never discussed about their salaries. And agree with whoever stated that they no longer have children or grands in school but still have to pay the taxes for the schools.
The formulas and methods for funding of public primary education in Wisconsin is horrible. I’ll admit that many Kenosha schools are fiscally mismanaged…but that doesn’t change the fact that it is difficult to plan and effectively run a school with such a complicated funding system. My experience is that the school districts that elect board members with some finance competence and common sense (rare) are in the best shape and don’t have to keep going back to the taxpayers for referendums.
These schools better be careful about spending taxpayer money on ‘marketing’ a referendum. State law rightly disallows the use of public money to ask that same public for more money…one of the few rules having to do with running schools that makes sense.