Lake Geneva Joint #1 School Board

The Lake Geneva Joint #1 School District Board of Education values hearing from members of the community. Public comment provides an opportunity for residents, parents, students, staff members, and taxpayers to share perspectives on matters within the Board's responsibilities.

What is Public Comment?

Public comment allows individuals to address the Board during designated portions of Board meetings. It is an opportunity for the Board to listen to community members as it carries out its governance responsibilities.

Public comment is not intended to be a question-and-answer session or a public dialogue with individual Board members. In many cases, comments requiring follow-up will be referred to the Superintendent or appropriate administrators after the meeting.

To ensure all participants have an equal opportunity to speak and meetings remain productive and respectful:

• Speakers will be recognized by the Board president before speaking.

• Each speaker will have up to five minutes to address the Board.

• Please state your name before beginning your comments.

• Comments should be directed to the Board through the Board president.

• Speakers should address matters that fall within the Board's responsibilities.

• Comments should not be directed toward individual Board members, District employees, students, or other audience members.

• Personal attacks, profanity, shouting, or other disruptive conduct are not permitted.

• The Board president may interrupt or conclude remarks that violate Board policy or interfere with the orderly conduct of the meeting.

This summer, a book room reorganization project took place at Central-Denison. Before it began, staff were asked for feedback to make sure the reorganization met the school's needs. Central-Denison's reading specialists then organized the books to align with Central-Denison's current curriculum and Wisconsin Act 20 requirements. During this process, we identified books that no longer fit Central-Denison's instructional goals. Rather than discard them, we reached out to community partners. We are grateful that the YBase program, two local daycares, and the Montessori School accepted these books for use in their programs.

Following District Policy 7310, which guides the disposal of instructional materials, we removed books that do not support Central-Denison's current curriculum, contain outdated information, or are too worn to use. This review helped ensure Central-Denison's collection remains relevant. Many books are still stored at Central-Denison: we have two full closets available for donation, shelves of books throughout the book room, and two carts positioned in Central-Denison's hallways for students and families to take home. These materials have been available to the Central-Denison school community since the summer.

We recognize that some community members had concerns about books being removed from the school. We want to assure you that we made every effort to find new homes for these materials and followed the district policy on the disposal of instructional materials. We remain committed to supporting student access to reading materials and appreciate your understanding as we work to maintain a relevant instructional collection.

The Lake Geneva Joint #1 School District and Lake Geneva-Genoa City Union (Badger) High School District are committed to transparency and responsible stewardship of public resources. 

Because questions have been raised regarding superintendent compensation, the following information provides context about Dr. Peter Wilson's salary and benefits, the responsibilities associated with serving two separate school districts, and how Dr. Wilson’s compensation compares with other area superintendents.
 

What is the superintendent's salary for the 2025-26 school year?

Dr. Peter Wilson's base salary for the 2025-26 school year was $192,000.

An important part of understanding that figure is the structure of the position. Dr. Wilson serves simultaneously as superintendent of two legally separate school districts: The Lake Geneva Joint #1 School District and Lake Geneva-Genoa City Union (Badger) High School District. The districts have separate school boards, budgets, operations, and governance responsibilities.

The superintendent’s salary and most benefit costs are divided equally between the two districts. This shared model allows two separate districts to obtain superintendent leadership through one position rather than maintaining two. 

For the 2025-26 school year, Lake Geneva Joint #1 School District paid $96,000 for the superintendent, and Lake Geneva-Genoa City Union (Badger) High School District paid $96,000.

How does Dr. Wilson's salary compare with other area superintendents?

Dr. Wilson's salary is slightly above several relevant peer-group averages. After excluding one superintendent position that is specifically identified as a two-days-per-week assignment, the remaining 27 positions in the 2025–26 comparison group range from $128,737 to $223,612, with an average of approximately $182,125 per year. (The comparison group excludes the $99,000 Genoa City/Brookwood superintendent position in Walworth County because it is a two-days-per-week assignment, as previously noted). 

Two particularly relevant comparison groups are the Southern Lakes Conference and Union High School Districts:

Dr. Wilson's $192,000 salary is therefore approximately 1.8% above the Southern Lakes Conference average and 1.7% above the Union High School Districts average. Those are particularly useful comparisons because his compensation is very close to the prevailing salary for superintendents in those peer groups, while his responsibilities extend across two separate school districts.

There is another important distinction when considering individual comparisons. Waterford Union High School District reports a superintendent salary of approximately $210,000, but that superintendent's contract is for only 210 working days. Dr. Wilson's contract establishes a 260-day employment year — 50 additional contract days. Dr. Wilson also serves two separate school districts rather than one.
 

How does enrollment factor into the comparison?

Enrollment is one useful measure of a superintendent's responsibilities, although it is not the only one. School districts must maintain core leadership and operational functions regardless of size, including budgeting, personnel management, curriculum and instruction, facilities, school safety, regulatory compliance, board governance, family and community relations, and long-range planning.

The comparison is also more meaningful when enrollment, organizational structure, and contract length are considered alongside salary. A superintendent serving one district under a substantially shorter annual contract is not necessarily a direct comparison with a superintendent serving two districts under a 260-day contract. For Dr. Wilson, the scope includes two legally separate districts, two boards of education, two budgets, and a 260-day employment year.

For 2025-26, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction data show September 2025 adjusted pupil counts of 1,610 students in Lake Geneva Joint #1 and 1,215 in Lake Geneva-Genoa City UHS, or 2,825 students combined.

The following provides additional context using several relevant districts from the salary comparison:

The enrollment figures above are Wisconsin DPI September 2025 adjusted pupil counts. The salary figures come from the districts' 2025-26 superintendent comparison data.

This comparison illustrates why enrollment and organizational structure provide useful context. For example, Dr. Wilson's $192,000 salary is below the salaries reported for Elkhorn, Arrowhead, and Waterford UHS. At the same time, the combined student population Dr. Wilson oversees equals more than each of those school districts. 

Enrollment alone does not determine appropriate superintendent compensation. However, considering enrollment alongside the responsibility for two districts, two boards, and two separate organizations provides a more complete picture than comparing salaries alone.
 

Why does it matter that the superintendent serves two districts?

Lake Geneva Joint #1 School District and Lake Geneva-Genoa City Union (Badger) High School District are separate governmental entities. Each has its own board, budget, operations, and responsibilities.

The shared model allows both districts to obtain superintendent leadership through one position rather than maintaining two.

For additional market context, the average 2025-26 superintendent salary among the union high school districts in the comparison group is $188,801, while the average among the K-8 districts is $145,441. Dr. Wilson's salary is $192,000 while serving both districts (Lake Geneva Joint #1 Schools and Lake Geneva-Genoa City Union (Badger) High School).

These averages should not be interpreted as a precise calculation of what the districts would spend if they employed two separate superintendents. Rather, they provide useful context for understanding the shared leadership model and the regional market for superintendent compensation.
 

What retirement benefits do the districts provide the superintendent?

For 2025-26, the two school districts contributed $13,000 to a 403(b) tax-sheltered annuity (TSA) on Dr. Wilson's behalf. A TSA is a typical component of a superintendent's overall compensation package, and should be understood and disclosed as such.

Retirement contributions are one of the tools school boards can use when structuring an executive compensation package. In Dr. Wilson's case, the TSA contribution was $10,200 annually under his 2022-2024 contract, and then $12,500 in 2024-25 and $13,000 in 2025-26.

The TSA should therefore be considered part of Dr. Wilson's total compensation, rather than being viewed separately. 
 

Why does the superintendent receive a vehicle allowance?

Dr. Wilson receives a $400 monthly vehicle allowance (or $4,800 annually) from Lake Geneva Joint #1 for using his personal vehicle for school business.

Dr. Wilson’s responsibilities require travel among schools and district facilities. The allowance helps compensate for business use of a personally owned vehicle rather than requiring the district to provide a vehicle.

The contract also provides reimbursement at the current IRS mileage rate for out-of-district mileage.

To clarify, the $400 monthly payment is a vehicle allowance, not a mileage reimbursement. Mileage for qualifying out-of-district travel is handled separately.
 

What health insurance benefits does the superintendent receive?

Dr. Wilson does not receive fully district-paid health insurance under his current contract.

Under his original 2022-2024 contract, the two districts paid 100% of his medical, vision, and dental insurance premium. Under the 2024-2026 contract, that provision changed. The boards now contribute the same amount toward the superintendent's medical, vision, and dental insurance that they contribute for professional staff.

This change provides important context when considering how the superintendent's overall benefits have evolved.
 

What other benefits are included in the superintendent's contract?

The contract includes benefits associated with a year-round leadership position, including long-term disability and life insurance, eight sick days annually, 25 vacation days, two personal days, professional association dues, a $75 per-month cell phone reimbursement, and reimbursement for approved professional development and related expenses.

The superintendent's contract establishes a 260-day employment year, reflecting the year-round nature of the position.
 

Why do the boards provide these types of benefits?

A superintendent's compensation package helps recruit and retain qualified leadership in a competitive regional labor market. School boards consider the entire compensation package, including salary and benefits, as well as professional qualifications and experience, performance, the scope and complexity of the position, market conditions, and the needs of the districts.

In the case of Lake Geneva Joint #1 School District and Lake Geneva-Genoa City Union (Badger) High School District, the boards also consider the unusual scope of a position, responsible for simultaneously leading two separate school districts.

This statement addresses questions raised during public comment at the September 8, 2026, Board meeting regarding the process by which the Superintendent's contract was approved, including a suggestion that the vote violated Wisconsin's Open Meetings Law.

At the Lake Geneva Joint #1 School District's July 14, 2026, meeting, a motion was made in open session by Hollmann, seconded by Bailey Boilini, to approve the Superintendent's contract. One Board member was absent that evening, and the roll call vote was: Bittner – no; Spiegelhoff – no; Hollmann – yes; Bailey Boilini – yes. The motion was at an impasse with a 2–2 vote.

The item was properly re-noticed and placed on the agenda for the Board’s August 11, 2026, meeting. There, the roll call vote was: Bittner – no; Spiegelhoff – no; Hollmann – yes; Bailey Boilini – yes; Dinan – yes. The motion passed 3–2, again in open session and fully visible to the public.

Wisconsin's Open Meetings Law requires a governmental body to: (1) provide proper public notice regarding its meetings, and (2) conduct its business in open session absent a statutory exception. Both requirements were met at the August 11 meeting, and the Board's action on this contract is valid.

Board Policy 0161 provides that the Board follows Robert's Rules of Order for the orderly conduct of its meetings, but also makes clear that deviation from the letter of parliamentary procedure does not affect the validity of substantive Board action taken within its legal authority. Legal validity turns on proper notice and an open, public vote — as occurred here — not on strict adherence to parliamentary formality. 

The Board recognizes that its discussion of agenda items can always be strengthened and will continue exploring ways to improve how it engages in public deliberation. The District remains committed to full compliance with Wisconsin's Open Meetings Law and to conducting the public's business openly and transparently.

Additional Note:
The Lake Geneva-Genoa City Union (Badger) High School Board approved the Superintendent's contract at its July 13, 2026, Board meeting. 

When an employee separates from Lake Geneva Schools, whether from the Lake Geneva-Genoa City Union (Badger) High School District or Lake Geneva Joint #1 School District, they are provided with an Exit Interview Form to complete.

The form asks departing employees to share:

• Basic information (name, personal email, job title, building location, and supervisor)
• Their primary and secondary reasons for leaving
• Ratings across several categories, including onboarding and training, workload, coworker relationships, resources/equipment, supervisor performance, working conditions, compensation, benefits, and opportunities for growth
• Open-ended comments on their overall experience and suggestions for improving the district as a workplace

This feedback helps the district identify trends, address concerns, and continue improving as an employer for our staff. Importantly, the form also gives every departing employee the option to request a follow-up conversation directly with the Superintendent to discuss their experience in more detail.

Eastview Elementary was tested twice in 2025 for air quality, and both rounds confirm the building is safe.

The first round of testing was conducted at the request of an employee. The second round followed a water issue at Eastview; the district's Buildings and Grounds team immediately cleaned up the water issue, and the district then brought in Independent Environmental, an outside, independent testing company, to conduct professional air quality testing to confirm the building was safe.

Air samples were collected in two rounds, on September 27 and November 5, 2025, from classrooms and hallways throughout the building, along with an outdoor sample for comparison. Comparing indoor air to outdoor air is the standard method experts use to determine whether a building has a mold problem, since mold spores are naturally present in outdoor air everywhere.

In both rounds of testing, every indoor sample came back lower than the outdoor air sample:

Round 1 (September 27, 2025) — spore counts per cubic meter of air:
Outdoor air: 17,586
Indoor classrooms and hallways: ranged from 145 to 2,230

Round 2 (November 5, 2025) — spore counts per cubic meter of air:
Outdoor air: 11,274
Indoor areas tested: 306

According to the testing company, lower indoor levels mean there is no indoor mold source, and an indoor mold reservoir is unlikely. The report also confirms that none of the mold types most commonly associated with health concerns (Stachybotrys, Memnoniella, or Chaetomium) were found anywhere in the building, indoors or outdoors, during either round of testing.

Industry standards note that indoor readings under 500 are considered very clean, and only readings above 3,000 would call for further testing or investigation. All final testing results were well within safe, normal ranges.

Bottom line: The district responded promptly, cleaned up the water issue right away, and brought in an independent expert to verify air quality both times. Testing confirms Eastview Elementary is safe for students, staff, and visitors.

The April 2025 Joint #1 Operational Referendum provided essential short-term stability for Lake Geneva Joint #1 School District, and we are grateful our community supported our students and staff.

The Ballot Question was:
"Shall the Lake Geneva Joint School District No. 1, City of Lake Geneva, Towns of Bloomfield, Geneva, LaFayette, Linn, Lyons and Spring Prairie, Walworth County, Wisconsin be authorized to exceed the revenue limit specified in Section 121.91, Wisconsin Statutes, by $4,000,000 per year for four years, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year and ending with the 2028-2029 school year, for non-recurring purposes consisting of expenses for school safety and security improvements, to pay teacher and staff compensation, to sustain educational programming for students, to maintain class sizes and ongoing operational expenses?"

Because the referendum passed, the district was able to:

• Maintain programming for students
• Preserve reasonable class sizes
• Avoid an abrupt 2025-2026 school closure 
• Prevent 16-20 immediate, full-time staff reductions
• Avoid increased community facility fees
• Complete critical infrastructure projects to improve safety, communication, and daily operations across our schools. 
  • This includes new exterior doors with updated electronic locking mechanisms and fob access, significantly enhancing building security; a UHF radio communications system overhaul; replacement of our outdated telephone system; security camera & monitoring system upgrades; replacement of end-of-life playground equipment; and additional maintenance such as replacing worn carpet, asphalt work, installing outdoor fencing and safety gates, roofing repairs, painting, and more.

This referendum funding helped stabilize operations through the 2028-2029 school year. However, it is important to understand what an operational referendum does and does not do.

Operational funds support people and programs. They help cover annual expenses like salaries, utilities, and classroom needs. They do not permanently resolve long-term structural challenges, such as:

• Changing enrollment patterns
• Underutilized building space
• Imbalances in grade distribution across schools
• The need to operate facilities as efficiently as possible over time

That is why the district is working to implement the 2027-2028 Facilities & Grade Configuration Plan.

This plan is a proactive, long-term strategy designed to ensure district facilities align with projected enrollment and to protect academic programming well into the future. 

Through an 18-month transition process, the district will:

• Engage key district stakeholders
• Balance enrollment across buildings
• Use facilities more efficiently
• Preserve strong educational programming
• Explore opportunities to grow enrollment and look to increase revenue in both traditional and innovative approaches
• Partner with community organizations to expand resources

Importantly, unlike a failed referendum would have, the 2027-2028 Joint #1 Facilities & Grade Configuration Plan does NOT:

• Close a school
• Result in staff layoffs
• Change class size targets
• Reduce student opportunities
• Negatively impact maintenance or safety
• Increase community facility fees

In short, the non-recurring referendum prevented abrupt cuts and stabilized the district in the short term. The Facilities & Grade Configuration Plan continues to support long-term sustainability by aligning our facilities with enrollment trends and providing opportunities to increase revenue while continuing to attract and retain students and families in a competitive educational landscape. These actions are not contradictory; they work together to protect students' educational experiences, preserve programs, and responsibly use community resources now and in the future.

No, the district is not closing or selling Eastview. The district will continue to operate and own Eastview. At this time, the district is exploring opportunities to grow enrollment and increase revenue through both traditional and innovative approaches, utilizing Eastview. Ideas include an early childhood learning center, expansion of alternative education (i.e., the district’s charter schools), and community-focused programs and partnerships. Over the next several months, the district will continue to provide updates on this work.

The 2027-2028 Facilities and Grade Configuration Plan was developed with input from a Community Action Committee composed of parents, staff, local business leaders, city and town officials, alumni, and community members. Click here to view the committee’s considerations.

The district was made aware of a parent concern about a bus driver incident that occurred on February 17, 2026, on the elementary shuttle route between two of our schools. Since the incident was reported, the district has maintained ongoing communication with Dousman Transport, our transportation contractor, to ensure the matter was addressed appropriately.

Upon learning of the situation, Dousman Transport took the following steps:

• Reviewed available video footage immediately.
• Removed the driver from all routes pending investigation.
• Communicated with the Lake Geneva Police Department regarding the incident.
• Responded to the family who raised the concern, confirming that an investigation was underway, with a follow-up update provided.
• Once Dousman Transport completed its investigation, it addressed the driver's performance in accordance with its protocols and procedures.

The district follows established board policy (Policy 7440.01 – Video Surveillance and Electronic Monitoring) when responding to requests for video footage. In this case, the district did not receive a formal request from authorities for the footage; when authorities later reached out directly, the matter was resolved through direct communication between the district and law enforcement.

Dousman Transport and/or the district have both responded directly to the family who raised the concern, acknowledging the situation and outlining the steps that were taken.

The district is satisfied that the matter was addressed appropriately by Dousman Transport and will continue to monitor the situation going forward.

Since the Fall of 2025, several critical infrastructure projects have been completed to improve safety, communication, and daily operations across our schools. These upgrades are part of our ongoing commitment to providing secure and supportive learning environments for all students and staff. These essential updates were made possible thanks to the support of our community during the April 2025 Joint #1 referendum. Your commitment to our schools helps to ensure our students and staff have safe, well-maintained spaces to learn and grow.

UHF Radio Communications System Overhaul
A complete overhaul of our UHF radio (walkie-talkie) system was completed, creating a modern, reliable communication network across all schools. This system supports each building's daily needs and ensures district-wide connectivity during emergencies or critical incidents.

Telephone System Replacement
Our outdated telephone system was fully replaced. Every handset was upgraded, a new headend system was installed, and auto-attendant features were redesigned for ease of use. This project also brings our system into full compliance with E911 regulations and adds communication features previously unavailable to staff and families.

Door Replacements Across the District
All worn exterior doors have been replaced. These new doors include updated electronic locking mechanisms and fob access, significantly enhancing building security. 

Security Camera & Monitoring System Upgrades
Security cameras and monitoring systems at all schools have been updated. These enhancements improve real-time surveillance, support incident response, and strengthen the overall safety of our campuses.

Playground Equipment Upgrades
Playground equipment at Central-Denison Elementary School and Star Center Elementary School that had reached the end of its life has been replaced. The new equipment includes ADA accessibility and essential safety upgrades, ensuring all students have access to a safe and inclusive play environment.

Additional Maintenance and Upgrades
As part of our Long-Term Facilities Plan, additional improvements were completed this summer, including replacing worn carpet, asphalt work, installing outdoor fencing and safety gates, roofing repairs, painting, and more. These upgrades help extend the life of our buildings and maintain safe, functional learning spaces. To learn more about our Long-Range Facilities Plan, visit the Buildings & Grounds page on our website.

The problem: revenue wasn't keeping pace with costs.
The chart below shows that the district's state-allowed revenue limit began falling further and further behind what it actually cost (adjusted for inflation) to keep running schools at the same level of service. Without new revenue, the district would have had to make deep cuts to close that gap on its own.

What the referendum did.
The referendum authorized the district to exceed the state revenue limit by $4 million per year for four years (2025-26 through 2028-29). That $4 million a year is what closes the gap shown in the chart — it's the difference between what the state formula allows and what the district actually needs to maintain programs, staff, and buildings.

Where the money went, specifically:

• People and programs (the bulk of the ongoing gap): 
  • Maintaining teacher/staff compensation, preserving class sizes, and sustaining educational programming 
• One-time safety and infrastructure projects:
  • UHF radio communications system overhaul (district-wide emergency communication)
  • Full telephone system replacement (including E911 compliance)
  • New exterior doors with electronic locks/fob access at all schools
  • Security camera and monitoring system upgrades
  • Playground replacements at Central-Denison and Star Center
  • Additional maintenance: carpet, asphalt, fencing/safety gates, roofing, painting

The bottom line:
The $4 million fills the gap between what the state allows the district to collect and what inflation-adjusted operating costs actually require. It brought stability, allowing the district to keep current programs and staffing intact while finally addressing overdue safety and facility repairs rather than deferring them further.

Yes. Eastview Elementary is able to call 911 using its landline phone system, and that system has been tested and verified.

There have been two separate concerns involving 911 calls at Eastview, and it is important to distinguish between the school’s landline phone system and personal cell phone service.

In January 2025, while Lake Geneva Schools was still using a phone system that was more than 24 years old, there was a problem completing a 911 call. A replacement phone system was already being planned, but that incident added urgency to the need for a new system.

The new internal phone system was included in the operational referendum approved by the community in April 2025. Work to replace the old system began that summer, and the new phone system was brought online.

On September 22, 2025, a 911 call from Eastview revealed an unexpected configuration problem with the school’s local phone gateway. That issue prevented a landline extension from properly completing the 911 call.

Eastview staff reported the problem, and an IT help ticket was created that day at 12:46 p.m. Technology staff began investigating immediately and brought in outside vendor support. The configuration problem was found and corrected.

The affected extensions were then used to place test 911 calls. Those calls completed successfully, and the issue was considered fully resolved on September 25, 2025.

The September situation was more concerning because an employee also attempted to use a personal cell phone and was unable to successfully complete a 911 call.

That is a separate issue from Eastview’s landline phone system.

Lake Geneva Schools does not block or interfere with personal cellular service at any of our buildings. At the same time, the school cannot control the strength or reliability of service provided by AT&T, T-Mobile, US Cellular, or any other cellular carrier.

Eastview’s location and construction can also affect cellular coverage. Portions of the building sit into the side of a hill, below street level. Like many buildings, there can be places where cellular service is stronger or weaker depending on the carrier and the location inside the building.

Another concern was reported on December 2, 2025, when an employee attempted to call 911 using only a personal cell phone.

Because of those concerns, Lieutenant Keller of the Lake Geneva Police Department contacted the Lake Geneva Schools Director of Technology on January 15, 2026, and asked to visit Eastview to test both the landline phones and cellular service throughout the building. That visit took place on February 4, 2026. During the visit, Lieutenant Keller tested sample desk phones at Eastview and verified that the landline phone system was able to successfully connect with 911.

He also tested cell phones from three different carriers: T-Mobile, AT&T, and US Cellular, from several locations throughout the school. The phones were able to successfully reach 911 from the locations tested, with one exception: the air handler room had poor cellular coverage.

Rather than rely on cellular service in that area, Lieutenant Keller recommended installing a landline phone nearby. Eastview followed that recommendation, and a wall-mounted landline phone was installed near the entrance to the air handler room.

Since that testing and the installation of the additional phone, no further failed 911 calls have been reported to the Lake Geneva Schools Technology Department from Eastview Elementary.

It is important to acknowledge that a 911 call did fail at Eastview on September 22, 2025. That concern was taken seriously. The phone system issue was investigated, corrected, and tested. The Lake Geneva Police Department later independently tested the building, and Eastview made an additional improvement based on that testing.

Eastview’s landline phones have been tested and verified to reach 911. Cell phones from multiple carriers have also successfully reached 911 from multiple areas of the building. Where poor cellular coverage was identified, an additional landline was installed so staff would have another reliable way to reach emergency services.

If another concern is ever reported, it will be investigated and addressed with the same level of urgency.