117.08 Consolidation of school districts.

498 words·~2 min read·/wi/chapter-117/117-08-2

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

(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.