School Closure Planning

MGT Reports on Resident Student Forecast

Link to MGT Report to the Board of Education on December 8, 2025

New Data Confirms Continued Decline in Student Enrollment

New Data Confirms Continued Decline in Student Enrollment

At the December 8th Board of Education meeting, MGT, the consulting firm hired by the School District to review enrollment data and lead the process for determining new elementary attendance boundaries, confirmed that the School District will continue to see a decline in student enrollments over the next ten years.

As part of their research and determination on enrollment projections, MGT reviewed historical enrollment data, mid-census birth rate data for the 54016 and 54082 zip code areas, areas of high density in the District, resident student enrollment at each school, housing yields, in-migration data, and residential developments. An enrollment analysis of students living in the School District, excluding open-enrolled students, indicates the elementary schools are operating at only 60% utilization district-wide. This represents approximately 1,000 empty elementary school seats.

Birth rates are one source of data to assist in determining long-range planning. Hudson, along with many other parts of the country, has experienced declining birth rates since the recession, which were further exacerbated by the COVID pandemic. The slight uptick in birth rates is not enough to replace the larger number of students leaving the District upon graduation.

In stark contrast to ten or fifteen years ago, the District is not experiencing significant in-migration of students from elementary to graduation. In-migration in grades K-8 indicates no growth, while the High School has shown a slight gain. This slight gain is primarily due to the students entering the District from private/parochial schools. While new residential housing continues across the School District, the estimated student yield is only .33 children per household. This means 100 units of housing could yield 33 students in grades K- 12 over time. Based on MGT’s review of residential development, there are approximately 665 active or planned housing units being built within the next ten years.

Based on the research and data described above, MGT forecasted the number of resident students through 2035. This forecast shows resident elementary student enrollment at about 1,750, Middle School enrollment at about 880, and High School at about 1,276. As a comparison, this year’s K-12 resident student enrollment is 4,762 students, and the forecasted enrollment for 2035-2036 is 4,179 students. This means the School District can expect to lose nearly 600 additional students, even when accounting for projected in-migration and yields from new housing developments.

While the news of an additional decline in student enrollment over the next 10 years is not what anyone would like to hear, it reinforces the Board of Education’s long-term planning decisions. In the event the School District experiences a smaller decline in student enrollment than forecasted in this recent study, adequate space will remain at the elementary level. Further, additional space will open up at the Middle and High School levels, as these schools experience the largest enrollment decline by 2032.

Facts About Hudson School District's Budget Challenges and Elementary School Closures

There are some in the community who have expressed concern that the decision-making process surrounding school closures is moving too quickly and without adequate public input. In reality, the Hudson School District and Board of Education have been transparently discussing declining student enrollment, projected budget shortfalls, and the potential need to close schools for more than three years. Throughout this period, the Board has engaged the community through multiple meetings, presentations, referendums, newsletters, and public reports. These conversations began well before any final decisions were made and were focused on sustaining high-quality educational programs, responsible fiscal stewardship, and prioritizing student experiences over maintaining buildings. Link to Facts About the Hudson School District's Budget Challenges and Elementary School Closures.

Fact: The Board of Education has been discussing projected budget shortfalls and the possible need to close schools for the past three years.

Misleading statement: This decision is moving too fast, and there has been limited dialogue with the community.

The Board of Education has been discussing declining student enrollment and projected budget shortfalls for the past three years. In the spring of 2023, the Board asked the community to support an $8 million operational referendum that would help the District maintain all of its programs and schools. The community said no. The Board adjusted its request down to $5 million in the fall of 2024. Again, the community said no. This past spring (2025), the Board adjusted its request to $5 million, with a six-year limit. They also stated that this $5 million would not meet the projected long-term budget shortfall. Additional cuts would be needed. The community said yes by a very slim margin of six (6) votes.

Following the narrow passage of the spring operational referendum, the Board began discussions on the next steps for the School District. The Board reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining high-quality academics, adhering to class-size guidelines, continuing class and course experiences such as art, music, and other specials, retaining high-quality staff, ensuring our schools are safe, clean, and well-maintained, and continuing extracurricular activities. These commitments to the educational experience of all children outweighed a commitment to maintaining bricks-and-mortar schools. The Board of Education is charged with balancing decisions in the best interest of the greatest number of students while being responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars.

The following provides a brief overview of the community engagement opportunities and stories over the past three years (link to the full list of Long-term Facility and Budget Planning Communications 2020-2025):

Community Engagement

September 28, 2022, Hudson School District Facilities Planning parent meetings at Willow River and EP Rock Elementary Schools
October 3, 2022, Hudson School District Facilities Planning parent meetings at North Hudson and Houlton Elementary Schools
November 1, 2022, Community Meeting Presentation. Link to presentation slides.
February 22, 2023, Community Meeting regarding April 2023 referendum at Hudson Middle School
February 23, 2023, Referendum presentations to Hudson Chamber of Commerce and EP Rock Parent Group.
March 2, 2023, Referendum presentation to Hudson Prairie Parent Group
March 7, 2023, Referendum presentation to North Hudson Parent Group
March 9, 2023, Referendum presentation to Willow River Parent Group
March 21, 2023, Referendum virtual presentation open to community
March 23, 2023, Referendum presentation to Noon Rotary and the community at North Hudson Elementary
March 30, 2023, Referendum presentation to Houlton Parent Group
April 4-6, 2024, Creating our future strategic planning
January 7, 2025, Community Conversation to gather input on potential budget cuts and potential school closures (link to feedback responses)

News Articles and Community Newsletters/Mailers

Hudson School District Annual Meeting, September 12, 2022: Budget challenges included reduced state funding, maintaining class size guidelines, sustainable funding of long-term maintenance and capital improvement plans for all facilities, and a projected decline in student enrollment. Link to HSD Annual Report 2022
The Star Observer, October 24, 2022: Big decision - Hudson faces school closure choices https://www.hudsonstarobserver.com/news/big-decision-hudson-faces-school-closure-choices/article_aacf1600-53cd-11ed-bc2d-db141e09bf99.html
The Star Observer, November 3, 2022: Hudson - District takes questions about Houlton, Willow River schools https://www.hudsonstarobserver.com/news/hudson-district-takes-questions-about-houlton-willow-river-schools/article_0e485102-5ba7-11ed-bc70-9becedc9731b.html
The Star Observer, November 15, 2022: Hudson - People pleas for Houlton, Willow https://www.hudsonstarobserver.com/news/hudson-people-plea-for-houlton-willow/article_048e00a2-6512-11ed-bf37-0bc29282d631.html
Hudson School District Annual Meeting, September 11, 2023: Budget challenges included addressing state funding levels, addressing instructional needs for all learners, maintaining class size guidelines, sustainable funding of long-term maintenance and capital improvement plans for all facilities, projected decline in student enrollment. Link to HSD Annual Report 2023
HSD Community Newsletter, December 2023: Creating Our Future Together - A community conversation for educational excellence. Link to newsletter
HSD Community Newsletter, March 2024: Creating our Future Together - A community conversation for educational excellence. Link to newsletter
The Star Observer, January 8, 2025: Hudson School District hosts community conversation, where residents discuss budget cuts, referendum https://www.hudsonstarobserver.com/news/hudson-school-district-hosts-community-conversation-where-residents-discuss-budget-cuts-referendum/article_156d907c-cdde-11ef-8839-17318988d7c2.html
The Star Observer, January 14, 2025: Hudson School Board agrees to place referendum on ballot this April https://www.hudsonstarobserver.com/news/hudson-school-board-agrees-to-place-referendum-on-ballot-this-april/article_70ea03c2-d2a2-11ef-888e-e3b063ebd65c.html
The Star Observer, February 14, 2025: Hudson Superintendent - We’re working to address budget challenges https://www.hudsonstarobserver.com/opinion/hudson-superintendent-were-working-to-address-budget-challenges/article_11e01b46-eb11-11ef-91df-675b7b492ab9.html
The Star Observer, March 17, 2025: Why the operational referendum matters for our schools and community
The Star Observer, March 15, 2025: Hudson School Board Candidate Forum features discussionn on referendum, student mental health https://www.hudsonstarobserver.com/news/hudson-school-board-candidate-forum-features-discussion-on-referendum-mental-health/article_f44a2594-006f-11f0-b009-535b60b81189.html
Operational Referendum website information, April 1, 2025 https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bJxZWXhgmIpDN_WzIAEMZiU312zNHBNY9uYpJO10jGE/edit?usp=sharing

Fact: The School District has used data to make this decision.

Misleading statement: The Board of Education has withheld information. How is it possible to make a decision when there are so many unknowns, such as new attendance boundaries, bus routes, staffing, and more?

Fact: The last demographic study, which was shared with the community, was done in May of 2022 by Applied Population Laboratory - UW Madison. The projected data from this study extended to 2031-2032.

Misleading statement: The District states student enrollment is declining, yet new housing is being built.

Over the past ten (10) years, the School District has turned to professional demographers to help answer this question regarding future student enrollments. The most recent demographic study, conducted by the Applied Population Laboratory at the University of Wisconsin - Madison, was completed in 2022. The data from that study indicate the following points:

Continued long-term downward trend in elementary projected enrollments through 2031-2032.
Recent and long-term municipal birthrates are on a downward trend through 2027.
The District’s attendance area has seen the most growth in individuals aged 55 or older.

Additionally, the School District has retained the services of another demographic consulting group, MGT, to update student enrollment projections and assist with setting new elementary attendance boundaries. Preliminary conversations with MGT suggest that the School District’s student enrollment will continue to decline over the next ten years.

Based on data from the Applied Population study, despite an increase in housing units, both single-family and multi-family, the estimated number of students from each new unit is only 0.47 (meaning that for every two new residences, the School District would gain one student).

Fact: The Board of Education is committed to maintaining existing class-size guidelines, and individual families will not be divided in resetting elementary attendance boundaries.

Misleading statement: Class sizes will go up, and neighborhoods/families divided.

The current class-size guidelines have been in place for the Hudson School District since the 1990s. A thirty-year history of adhering to the same class size guidelines is a strong indicator of the School District’s commitment to these guidelines.

Our elementary schools currently have enough capacity to accommodate the closure of up to two schools, including space for 4K programs. Options for 4K wrap care may be more limited. Class sizes would remain within our Board-approved guidelines:

Kindergarten–2nd Grade: 18–22 students
Grades 3–5: 22–27 students

Currently, there is only one 2nd-grade classroom at Willow River with 23 students, and two 5th-grade classrooms at River Crest with 28 students each. Alternatively, nine grade levels across the School District are below classroom guidelines.

While some classes that are currently at sixteen students will see an increase, there are other classes at the high end of the guidelines that will actually see a decrease.

Part of the community engagement feedback will help the School District understand neighborhood boundaries. Considerations for keeping neighborhoods together will include roadways and other physical barriers to bus routes, and enrollment numbers for each attendance area. Individual families will not be split.

Fact: The School District asked the community to support the maintenance and improvements to EP Rock and North Hudson Elementary Schools, and Hudson Middle School in 2023.

False: The School District asked for money to build a new school three (3) years ago.

Fact: The School Board is committed to selling the approximate 16 acres on UU once the larger portion of the UU property is sold.

False: The School District is holding on to a portion of the UU property for a future school site.

Questions have been raised and speculation expressed regarding the approximate 16 acres of UU property that is being retained by the School District. The Board of Education chose to hold onto this small parcel of land in order to sell it once the larger UU sale is completed and developed. It is believed that the property will have greater value and provide the School District with additional revenue.

The zoning classification for this parcel is AG/residential within the Town of Hudson. However, because the School District owns the property as a governmental entity, there are no taxes collected on the property. This has created some confusion when people have stated it is zoned public.

Preliminary Implementation Timeline

Phase	Time Frame	Key Actions
Planning & Communication	October - November 2025	Finalize work groups, begin community messaging, initiate staff Q&A.
Staffing & Logistics Prep	December 2025 - March 2026	Confirm admin/staff placements, begin equipment inventory, finalize boundary decisions.
Community Engagement	January - March 2026	Host parent meetings, launch recruitment messaging, begin historical documentation.
Board Decision on Attendance Boundaries	February 2026	Board takes action on revised elementary attendance boundaries.
Student & Family Transition Activities	April - May 2026	Bus tours, field trips, open houses, summer camp planning.
Operational Execution	June - July 2026	Move equipment, update IT systems, finalize food service and facilities plan.
Final Preparations	July - August 2026	Staff Professional Development days, team-building, classroom setup, badge distribution.
School Year Launch	August 2026	First day of school in new configuration, ongoing support and evaluation.

Hudson School District School Closure Transition Plan

Guiding Principles

How would you want your child to be treated during this process?
How would you want to be treated as a staff member going through this process?
How can we ensure transparency throughout the transition process?

Elementary Attendance Reboundary Process Work Group

Mandate: Elementary Attendance Reboundary Process Group is responsible for managing the setting of new elementary attendance boundaries and community engagement.

Work with boundary consultants, MGT, to create multiple options for community feedback.
Work with the Board of Education to set guiding principles for new boundaries.
Lessons learned from the previous reboundary process.
Present options for community feedback.
Organize community feedback surveys.
Establish a goal for length that the updated boundaries will last.
Work to minimize impact on students by keeping neighborhoods together.

Student & Family Experience Work Group

Mandate: Students & Family Experience Work Group is responsible for managing the respective aspects of the school closure transition.

Organize bus tours, host open houses, and schedule field trips to new schools.
Class placement and registration processes.
Intramural activities to build student connections.
Summer transition camps and building walkthroughs.
Staff directories and building maps.
Special Education/English Language Learners/Gifted and Talented transition, caseload meetings and communications.
Coordinate Parent Group (PTO) involvement and financial planning.
School boundary setting with community feedback.

Human Resources & Staff Transitions Work Group

Mandate: Human Resources & Staff Transitions Work Group is responsible for managing the respective aspects of the school closure transition.

Establish timelines for administrative, certified, and support staff placements.
Team-building activities during Professional Development days.
Staffing surveys and experience calculations.
Q&A document for staff concerns.
Support plans for new teams and roles.
Provide support from grades 6-12 staff for elementary school transitions.

Logistics, Facilities & Technology Work Group

Mandate: Logistics, Facilities & Technology Work Group is responsible for managing the respective aspects of the school closure transition.

Inventory and relocation of classroom and student equipment.
Packing and labeling systems.
Office space planning and badge updates.
Storage and surplus disposal.
IT infrastructure updates and equipment reallocation.
Review copier contracts, implement software updates, and assess security systems.
Food service logistics and furniture assessments.

Communications & Community Engagement Work Group

Mandate: Communications & Community Engagement Work Group is responsible for managing the respective aspects of the school closure transition.

School boundary communications and flexibility.
Develop a messaging strategy and plan for historical preservation and traditions.
Community walk-throughs and celebrations.
Parent Groups (PTO) and personalized outreach.
Coordination with historical societies and archives, honor rich history at Houlton and Willow River Elementary Schools.
Recruitment messaging and District-wide student opportunity profiles.

Operations, Reporting & Compliance Work Group

Mandate: Operations, Reporting & Compliance groups is responsible for managing the respective aspects of the school closure transition.

DPI reporting updates.
Skyward and Mosaic system changes.
Update protocols for SpeakUpSpeakOut and the Office of School Safety.
Transportation planning and hazardous route updates.
Facilities staffing and maintenance contracts, property insurance updates.

Upcoming Events

Resetting Elementary Attendance Boundaries Community Meetings

Tuesday, January 13

6:00 PM - 8:00 PM at Hudson Middle School Multi-Purpose Room

Tuesday, January 27

6:00 PM - 8:00 PM at Hudson Middle School Multi-Purpose Room

Questions?

Email: connections@hudsonraiders.org

or contact

Dr. Nick Ouellette

Chief Executive Officer Superintendent

1350 Carmichael Rd., Hudson, WI 54016

oulletten@hudsonraiders.org

715.377.3702

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