117.08 Consolidation of school districts.
(1) Initiation of procedures. The school boards of 2 or more school districts may adopt resolutions stating that they will consider consolidating their school districts. The school district clerk of each school board adopting a resolution under this subsection shall send a certified copy of the resolution to the school boards of each of the other affected school districts and to the secretary of the board.
(2) School board action. In the first July beginning after the adoption of resolutions by 2 or more school boards under sub. (1), the school boards of the affected school districts may order the school districts consolidated by the adoption, by each of those school boards, of a resolution ordering the consolidation. Failure of a school board to adopt a resolution either ordering or denying the consolidation before August 1 constitutes a denial of the consolidation by that school board. The school district clerk of each school board adopting a resolution under this subsection, either ordering or denying a consolidation, shall, within 5 days after the adoption of the resolution, send a certified copy of the resolution to the school boards of each of the other affected school districts and file a certified copy of the resolution as provided under s. 117.17 (2). If the school board of each affected school district adopts a resolution ordering the consolidation, the consolidation shall take effect on the following July 1, unless a referendum under sub. (3) is required.
(3) Referendum.
(a) If the school board of each affected school district adopts a resolution ordering a consolidation under sub. (2), a referendum on the consolidation shall be held under par. (b) if one of the following occurs:
1. At the time of adopting the resolution under sub. (2), the school board of any affected school district directs the holding of a referendum.
2. Before the 2nd Tuesday of September following the adoption of the resolutions under sub. (2), a petition conforming to the requirements of s. 8.40 requesting a referendum, signed by at least 10 percent of the electors who reside in any affected school district, is filed with the clerk of the school district that has the highest equalized valuation of the affected school districts. The validity of the petition shall be governed by the rules promulgated under s. 8.40 (3).
(b) If a referendum is directed or a petition requesting a referendum is filed under par. (a), the school district clerk of the school board adopting the resolution or the school district clerk receiving the petition shall immediately notify the school boards of each of the other affected school districts, the secretary of the board and the clerk of each city, village or town, any part of which is contained within an affected school district. The referendum shall be held in the affected school districts as provided under s. 117.20. Votes shall be counted separately for each affected school district.
(4) Referendum results. If a majority of the votes cast in each affected school district is in favor of consolidation, the school districts shall be consolidated on the following July 1. At the time of canvassing the returns, the school boards of the affected school districts shall make and file an order of school district reorganization under s. 117.17 (2).
(5) Alternative timelines.
(a) If each school board adopting a resolution under sub. (1) specifies in its resolution that the alternative timeline under this paragraph applies, the dates specified in subs. (2), (3) (a) 2., and (4) are changed as follows:
1. The resolutions ordering or denying a consolidation under sub. (2) shall be adopted in the first December beginning after the adoption of resolutions by 2 or more school boards under sub. (1). Failure of a school board to adopt a resolution either ordering or denying the consolidation before January 1 constitutes a denial of the consolidation by that school board.
2. The petition requesting a referendum under sub. (3) (a) 2. shall be filed before the 2nd Tuesday of February following the adoption of the resolutions under sub. (2).
3. If a majority of the votes cast in each affected school district is in favor of consolidation, the school districts shall be consolidated on the 2nd following July 1.
(b) If each school board adopting a resolution under sub. (1) specifies in its resolution that the alternative timeline under this paragraph applies, the dates specified in subs. (2) and (3) (a) 2. are changed as follows:
1. The resolutions ordering or denying a consolidation under sub. (2) shall be adopted in the first May beginning after the adoption of resolutions by 2 or more school boards under sub. (1). Failure of a school board to adopt a resolution either ordering or denying the consolidation before June 1 constitutes a denial of the consolidation by that school board.
2. The petition requesting a referendum under sub. (3) (a) 2. shall be filed before the 2nd Tuesday of July following the adoption of resolutions under sub. (2).
(6) State aid. From the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (br), the department shall pay to a school district created by a consolidation under this section that takes effect on or after July 1, 2019, the following amounts:
(a) In the school year in which the consolidation takes effect and in each of the subsequent 4 school years, $150 multiplied by the number of pupils enrolled, as defined in s. 115.437 (1), in the school district in that school year.
(b) In the 5th school year following the school year in which the consolidation takes effect, 50 percent of the amount the school district received under par. (a) in the 4th year following the school year in which the consolidation takes effect.
(c) In the 6th school year following the school year in which the consolidation takes effect, 25 percent of the amount the school district received under par. (a) in the 4th year following the school year in which the consolidation takes effect.
History: 1989 a. 114, 192, 287; 1991 a. 32; 2009 a. 307; 2017 a. 59.