Madison, Wis. – After a unanimous vote by the School District Boundary Appeal Board, the Hustisford School District will be dissolved and its schools transferred to the Dodgeland School District. The board’s 7‑0 decision on Thursday followed a series of public hearings and comment periods.
State officials note historic significance
The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction confirmed this is the first district dissolution in the state since the Ondossagon School District closed in 1990. State Superintendent Dr. Jill Underly praised the board’s difficult decision, thanking both the Hustisford School Board and Superintendent Todd Bugnacki for their leadership.
“The Hustisford School District is a casualty of decades of an antiquated, broken school funding formula that has failed to keep pace with the costs of educating our children,” Underly said. “This decision reflects the difficult choices that school districts and communities across Wisconsin are having to make as they are forced to do more with less due to a lack of support from the state. Our schools and communities deserve better, and if Wisconsin cannot get that done for our kids, opportunities for a better future will be lost.”
Local funding effort fell short
Earlier this year, Hustisford voters rejected an operational referendum that would have provided additional funding to keep the district afloat. Without that financial boost, the district could not sustain staffing levels or maintain essential programs.
The Hustisford district spans 58 square miles in the heart of Dodge County. With the dissolution, students will attend schools operated by the Dodgeland School District, which will assume responsibility for transportation, staffing, and curriculum continuity.
What the transition means for families
Parents and students can expect a transition period during which records, transportation routes, and extracurricular activities will be coordinated between the two districts. Both districts have pledged to keep communication lines open and to minimize disruption to classroom instruction.
Community members expressed mixed emotions. Some longtime residents mourned the loss of a district that has served the area for generations, while others welcomed the prospect of more stable funding and resources under Dodgeland’s larger administrative structure.
Looking ahead
State officials indicated that the dissolution may prompt a broader conversation about Wisconsin’s school funding formula, which many educators and local leaders argue is outdated and inequitable. The hope is that this case will spur legislative review and potential reforms to ensure that rural districts receive adequate support.
For now, the focus remains on a smooth handoff of students, staff, and assets to Dodgeland, with the goal of preserving educational quality for the children of Dodge County.
Original reporting: NBC15 WMTV (Gray) – local — read the source article.
