For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be
printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB400, s. 1 1Section 1. 117.03 (4m) of the statutes is created to read:
AB400,3,22 117.03 (4m) "Membership" has the meaning given in s. 121.004 (5).
AB400, s. 2 3Section 2. 117.05 (1m) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB400,3,64 117.05 (1m) Board and appeal panel meetings. The state superintendent shall
5set the time and place for meetings of the board under ss. 117.10, 117.105 (6), 17.12
6(5) and 117.132 and for meetings of appeal panels under ss. 117.12 (4) and 117.13.
AB400, s. 3 7Section 3. 117.05 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB400,4,8
1117.05 (2) (a) Board. The state superintendent shall appoint 7 members of the
2board to perform any review under ss. 117.10, 117.105 (6), 117.12 (5) and 117.132.
3The 7 members shall include the state superintendent or his or her designee on the
4board, 2 board members from school districts with small enrollments, 2 board
5members from school districts with medium enrollments and 2 board members from
6school districts with large enrollments. Any action of the board under this chapter
7requires the affirmative vote of at least 4 of the 7 members appointed under this
8paragraph.
AB400, s. 4 9Section 4. 117.05 (4) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB400,4,1410 117.05 (4) (a) Pending proceedings. (intro.) A reorganization proceeding is
11pending from the date that a petition is filed under s. 117.105 (1) (a), 117.11 (2) or
12117.12 (2) or a resolution is adopted under s. 117.08 (1), 117.09 (1), 117.10 (1), 117.105
13(1) (b),
117.13 (2) or 117.132 (2) until the date on which the latest of any of the
14following occurs:
AB400, s. 5 15Section 5. 117.05 (4) (d) of the statutes is created to read:
AB400,4,2116 117.05 (4) (d) One-year limitation on consideration of creation of a school
17district.
1. Except as provided in subd. 2., no petition for the detachment of territory
18from one school district and its inclusion in a school district proposed to be created
19under s. 117.105 (1) (a) may be filed under s. 117.105 (1) (a) before the 2nd June 1
20following the filing of a petition under s. 117.105 (1) (a) for any reorganization that
21includes any of the same territory.
AB400,4,2522 2. The limitation under subd. 1. does not apply if the school board of each
23affected school district adopts a resolution waiving the limitation. If a school board
24denies a request for a waiver under this subdivision, the denial may not be appealed
25under this chapter.
AB400, s. 6
1Section 6. 117.05 (5) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB400,5,92 117.05 (5) (a) Territory in district. All territory within this state shall be
3included in a school district operating elementary school grades and a school district
4operating high school grades or in a school district operating both elementary and
5high school grades. No territory may be detached from a school district unless by the
6same order it is attached to another school district or included in a new school district
7created by the order
. No territory may be detached from a school district that
8operates high school grades unless by the same order it is attached to or included in
9another school district that operates high school grades.
AB400, s. 7 10Section 7. 117.05 (8) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB400,5,1711 117.05 (8) Information on reorganization procedures. The department shall
12prepare a written description of the procedures for school district reorganizations
13under ss. 117.08 to 117.132 and distribute copies to school district clerks. A school
14district clerk shall give a copy of the description to any person, upon request, and to
15any person filing a petition with the clerk under s. 117.08 (3) (a) 2., 117.09 (3) (a) 2.,
16117.105 (1) (a) or (3) (b) 2., 117.11 (2) or (4) (a) 2. or 117.12 (2), at the time the petition
17is filed.
AB400, s. 8 18Section 8. 117.05 (9) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB400,5,2119 117.05 (9) (a) (intro.) The state superintendent may charge the following
20persons a fee sufficient to reimburse the department for the costs of the board under
21ss. 117.10, 117.105 and 117.132:
AB400, s. 9 22Section 9. 117.05 (9) (a) 2. of the statutes is created to read:
AB400,5,2423 117.05 (9) (a) 2. Each school board that issues an order to create a school district
24under s. 117.105 (2) or (4).
AB400, s. 10 25Section 10. 117.05 (9) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB400,6,8
1117.05 (9) (b) The clerk of the school district ordering the dissolution or
2requesting review shall pay the fee under par. (a) 3. or 4. to the state superintendent.
3The clerk of each school district issuing an order to create a school district shall pay
4the fee under par. (a) 2. to the state superintendent. The state superintendent shall
5allocate the fee under par. (a) 2. among the school districts from which territory is
6being detached to create a new school district if there is more than one such school
7district.
The secretary of the board shall forward the fee collected under par. (a) 5.
8to the state superintendent.
AB400, s. 11 9Section 11. 117.05 (10) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB400,6,1410 117.05 (10) State superintendent to advise. The state superintendent shall
11advise and consult with school boards regarding school district organization and
12reorganization. If, in the state superintendent's opinion, one or more school districts
13should be created, altered, consolidated or dissolved, he or she may make
14recommendations to the school boards of the affected school districts.
AB400, s. 12 15Section 12. 117.105 of the statutes is created to read:
AB400,6,18 16117.105 Creation of a school district. (1) Initiation of procedures.
17Procedures to create a school district from the territory of one or more existing school
18districts may be initiated by any of the following methods:
AB400,7,219 (a) Before June 1 of any year, 25% or more of the electors residing in the
20territory of the proposed school district, or owners of 25% or more of that territory,
21as measured by its assessed valuation divided by the assessment ratio of the taxation
22district, may file a written petition requesting the creation of a school district with
23the clerk of the school district that has the highest equalized valuation of the affected
24school districts. The school district clerk with whom the petition is filed shall
25immediately send a certified notice of the petition to the school board of each affected

1school district and to the secretary of the board. The petition shall include all of the
2following:
AB400,7,63 1. A description of the territory of the proposed school district that is
4sufficiently accurate to determine its location in the school districts from which it is
5proposed to be detached, as certified by the clerk of each city, town or village within
6which all or part of the territory is located.
AB400,7,107 2. The number of pupils residing in the territory of the proposed school district
8who, on the most recent of the preceding 3rd Friday of September or 2nd Friday of
9January, were enrolled in the school districts from which the territory is proposed to
10be detached, as certified by the clerks of those school districts.
AB400,7,1111 3. The name of the school district proposed to be created by the reorganization.
AB400,7,1312 4. The type of school district to be created and the grades to be taught by the
13proposed school district pursuant to s. 115.01 (2), (3) and (5).
AB400,7,1614 5. The number of school board members for the proposed school district under
15s. 120.01 or 120.41, the terms of initial members of the school board under s. 120.02
16(3) (a), and the method of election of school board members under s. 120.06 or 120.42.
AB400,7,1817 6. The date of the first election of school board members of the proposed school
18district, as provided under s. 117.22 (2) (b).
AB400,7,2019 7. The time and place for the first annual meeting of the proposed school
20district, if one is to be held.
AB400,8,821 (b) Before June 1, the school board of each school district from which territory
22will be detached to create the proposed school district may adopt a resolution stating
23that the school board will consider the creation of the school district. The resolution
24shall include a description of the territory sufficiently accurate to determine its
25location in the school districts from which it is proposed to be detached, as certified

1by the clerk of each city, town or village within which all or part of the territory is
2located, and the number of pupils residing in that territory who, on the most recent
3of the preceding 3rd Friday of September or 2nd Friday of January, were enrolled in
4the school districts from which the territory is proposed to be detached, as certified
5by the clerks of those school districts. The school district clerk of each school board
6adopting a resolution under this paragraph shall send a certified copy of the
7resolution to the school boards of each of the other affected school districts and to the
8secretary of the board.
AB400,8,23 9(2) School board action. Before the August 1 following the adoption of
10resolutions under sub. (1) (b), the school boards of the affected school districts may
11order the creation of the proposed school district by the adoption, by each of those
12school boards, of a resolution ordering the creation of the school district. Failure of
13a school board to adopt a resolution either ordering or denying the reorganization
14before August 1 constitutes a denial of the reorganization by that school board. The
15school district clerk of each school board adopting a resolution under this subsection,
16either ordering or denying the reorganization, shall, within 5 days after the adoption
17of the resolution, send a certified copy of the resolution to the school boards of each
18of the other affected school districts and file a certified copy of the resolution as
19provided in s. 117.17 (2). If the school board of each affected school district adopts
20a resolution ordering the creation of a proposed school district, the reorganization
21shall take effect on the following July 1, unless the school board of each affected
22school district orders that the reorganization shall take effect on the 2nd July 1
23following the order of reorganization or a referendum is required under sub. (3) (b).
AB400,8,25 24(3) Referendum. (a) A referendum shall be held under par. (c) on each
25reorganization petition filed under sub. (1) (a) before June 1 of that year.
AB400,9,3
1(b) A referendum shall be held under par. (c) on any reorganization ordered by
2the school boards of all of the affected school districts under sub. (2) if any of the
3following occurs:
AB400,9,114 1. At the time of adopting the resolution under sub. (2), the school board of any
5affected school district directs the holding of a referendum under this subdivision.
6A school board may direct the holding of a referendum under this subdivision if 7%
7or more of the enrollment of the school district resides in the territory proposed to be
8detached from that school district by the reorganization or the assessed value of the
9territory of that school district that is proposed to be detached from the school district
10by the reorganization, divided by the assessment ratio of the taxation district, is 7%
11or more of the equalized valuation of the school district.
AB400,9,1712 2. Before the 2nd Tuesday of September following the adoption of the
13resolutions under sub. (2), a petition conforming to the requirements of s. 8.40
14requesting a referendum, signed by at least 10% of the electors who reside in any
15affected school district, is filed with the clerk of the school district that has the
16highest equalized valuation of the affected school districts. The validity of the
17petition shall be governed by the rules promulgated under s. 8.40 (3).
AB400,9,2418 (c) If a referendum is required under par. (a) or (b), the school district clerk of
19the school board adopting the resolution or the school district clerk receiving the
20petition shall immediately notify the school boards of each of the other affected school
21districts, the secretary of the board and the clerk of each city, village or town, any part
22of which is contained within an affected school district. The referendum shall be held
23in the affected school districts as provided in s. 117.20. Votes shall be counted
24separately for each affected school district.
AB400,10,8
1(4) Referendum results. If a majority of the votes cast in each affected school
2district is in favor of the creation of the proposed school district, at the time of
3canvassing the returns the school boards of the affected school districts shall make
4and file an order of school district reorganization under s. 117.17 (2). The
5reorganization shall take effect on the following July 1 unless, within 30 days after
6canvassing the returns, the school board of each affected school district adopts and
7files a resolution, as provided in s. 117.17 (2), stating that the reorganization shall
8take effect on the 2nd July 1 following the order of reorganization.
AB400,10,21 9(5) Information. Before the July 15 following the filing of a petition under sub.
10(1) (a) or the adoption of a resolution by the school board of each affected school
11district under sub. (1) (b), the department shall provide the information described in
12pars. (a) to (g) to the person who filed the petition under sub. (1) (a), if applicable, and
13to each affected school board, based on the most recent available information that
14will provide consistent information to the affected school boards and the public, as
15determined by the department. If a referendum is required under sub. (3), the
16department shall provide updated information to the person who filed the petition
17under sub. (1) (a), if applicable, and to each affected school board not later than
18October 15 of that year. Each affected school board shall provide information
19requested by the department to assist the department in complying with this
20subsection. The department shall provide the following information under this
21subsection:
AB400,10,2422 (a) Grade structure. The grade level structure of each affected school district,
23as described in s. 115.01 (2), including which grades are included in the school
24district's elementary grades, middle schools, junior high schools and high schools.
AB400,11,3
1(b) Enrollment. 1. The enrollment of each affected school district, the
2enrollment of each affected school district in each of the preceding 5 years and the
3projected enrollment of each affected school district in each of the succeeding 5 years.
AB400,11,94 2. The enrollment of each affected school district attributable to pupils residing
5in territory of the school district that is proposed to be included in the school district
6created by the reorganization, the enrollment of each affected school district
7attributable to that territory in each of the preceding 5 years, and the projected
8enrollment of each affected school district attributable to that territory in each of the
9succeeding 5 years.
AB400,11,1310 3. Separate totals shall be given for the information described in subds. 1. and
112. for each grade, for all of the elementary grades, for all of the middle school grades,
12for all of the junior high school grades, for all of the high school grades and for all
13grades.
AB400,11,1814 (c) Schools. The name, location, number of classrooms, grades taught,
15enrollment by grade, number of teachers by grade and area of certification and
16number of administrators for each school in each affected school district and whether
17that school is located in the territory proposed to be included in the school district
18created by the reorganization.
AB400,11,2019 (d) Valuation. 1. The equalized valuation and equalized valuation per member
20of each affected school district.
AB400,11,2421 2. For each affected school district, the assessed value of the property of the
22school district that is proposed to be included in the school district to be created by
23the reorganization, divided by the assessment ratio of the appropriate taxation
24district.
AB400,12,4
13. For each affected school district, the amount determined under subd. 2. for
2that school district divided by the school district's membership residing on the
3property of the school district that is proposed to be included in the school district to
4be created by the reorganization.
AB400,12,75 4. The assessed value of the property of the school district proposed to be
6created by the reorganization, divided by the assessment ratio of the appropriate
7taxation district.
AB400,12,108 5. The amount determined under subd. 4. divided by the estimated
9membership of the school district that is proposed to be included in the school district
10to be created by the reorganization residing on that property.
AB400,12,1411 (e) Operating costs and debt. 1. For each affected school district, the net and
12gross costs of the general fund and debt service fund, as defined in s. 121.004 (3), (4)
13and (6), including the net cost of the debt service fund, as described in s. 121.07 (6)
14(a).
AB400,12,1915 2. The total outstanding debt of each affected school district; the type of debt
16outstanding, such as whether the debt is in the form of bonds, trust fund loans under
17s. 24.61 or promissory notes to private lenders; a description of any capital projects
18funded by the debt; the amount and type of the debt attributable to each such project;
19and the annualized debt service attributable to each such project.
AB400,12,2320 (f) Shared costs; state and federal aid; tax levy. For each affected school district,
21the school district's shared cost, state aid under ss. 121.08, 121.10 and 121.105 and
22total state aid; the school district's federal aid; the school district's property tax levy
23rate and total property tax levy; and the school district's revenue from other sources.
AB400,13,224 (g) Recent construction and referenda. 1. A description, including location and
25costs, of any school district building constructed during the preceding 5 years in any

1affected school district and whether the building is located in territory proposed to
2be included in the school district created by the reorganization.
AB400,13,43 2. A description, including location and costs, of any planned school district
4building construction.
AB400,13,75 3. The date, amount and purpose of any proposal to issue a bond or promissory
6note for which a referendum was held during the preceding 5 years under s. 67.05
7(6a) or 67.12 (12) if the issuance was not approved by the voters at the referendum.
AB400,13,208 (6) Board order. If an order of reorganization is issued under sub. (2) or (4),
9the board shall review any apportionment of assets and liabilities proposed by the
10person filing the petition under sub. (1) (a) or by the school board of any affected
11school district and shall issue an order apportioning the assets and liabilities
12according to the criteria under s. 66.03 (2c) (a) 1. The order shall be filed and
13distributed as provided under s. 117.17 (2). The school boards of the affected school
14districts may establish an alternative method to govern the assignment of assets and
15liabilities as provided in s. 66.03 (2c) (b), except that the resulting apportionment of
16assets and liabilities is subject to approval by the board and, if approved by the board,
17shall be incorporated into an order by the board under this subsection. If the board
18does not approve the apportionment of assets and liabilities resulting from the
19alternative method, it shall proceed to issue an order apportioning the assets and
20liabilities.
AB400, s. 13 21Section 13. 117.14 (1) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB400,14,222 117.14 (1) (intro.) Any person aggrieved by the denial of a consolidation under
23s. 117.08 (2) or 117.09 (2), the granting of a detachment and attachment of territory
24under s. 117.11 (3), the denial of the creation of a school district under s. 117.105 (2)
25or any order of the board or an appeal panel under this chapter may, within 30 days

1after copies of the order are filed with the secretary of the board under s. 117.17 (2),
2appeal the order to a circuit court as follows:
AB400, s. 14 3Section 14. 117.14 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB400,14,94 117.14 (1) (b) If the order is issued under ss. 117.11 117.105 to 117.132, the
5appeal shall be filed with the circuit court of any county in which any of the territory
6proposed to be detached from one school district and attached to, or included in,
7another school district is located or with the circuit court of any county in which any
8territory of the school district to which the territory is proposed to be attached, or the
9school district that is proposed to be created,
is located.
AB400, s. 15 10Section 15. 117.17 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB400,14,2411 117.17 (1) (a) Every order of school district reorganization under s. 117.08 or,
12117.09 or 117.105 that creates a new school district shall state the school districts
13which are dissolved or from which territory is detached to create the new school
14district, name the new school district, state the type of school district and the grades
15to be taught by the new school district pursuant to s. 115.01 (2), (3) and (5), designate
16the number of school board members under s. 120.01 or 120.41, designate the terms
17of initial members of the school board under s. 120.02 (3) (a), designate the method
18of election of school board members under s. 120.06 or 120.42, direct the election of
19school board members under s. 120.06 or 120.42, insofar as applicable, designate the
20date of the first election of school board members, as provided under s. 117.22 (2) (b),
21and fix the time and place for the first annual meeting of the new school district, if
22one is to be held. The secretary of the board shall give notice of the first annual
23meeting, if one is to be held, under s. 120.08 (1) (c), and shall designate a person to
24act as temporary chairperson of the annual meeting until a chairperson is elected.
AB400, s. 16 25Section 16. 117.17 (1) (bm) of the statutes is created to read:
AB400,15,4
1117.17 (1) (bm) Every order of school district reorganization under s. 117.105
2shall describe the territory of the school districts from which territory is detached to
3create the new school district, state the school district created by the order and
4describe the territory of the school district created by the order.
AB400, s. 17 5Section 17. 117.20 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB400,15,96 117.20 (1) If a referendum is required under ss. 117.08 to 117.11, it shall be held
7on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November following receipt of the petition
8or adoption of the resolution under s. 117.08 (3) (a), 117.09 (3) (a), 117.10 (3) (a),
9117.105 (1) or (3) (b)
or 117.11 (4) (a).
AB400, s. 18 10Section 18. 117.22 (1) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 117.22 (1) (a) 1.
AB400, s. 19 11Section 19. 117.22 (1) (a) 2. of the statutes is created to read:
AB400,15,1412 117.22 (1) (a) 2. If a school district is created under s. 117.105, the school boards
13of the school districts from which territory is detached to create the school district
14shall constitute the joint interim school board of the new school district.
AB400, s. 20 15Section 20. 117.22 (1) (b) 1. and 2m. of the statutes are amended to read:
AB400,15,1816 117.22 (1) (b) 1. If no referendum is required, on the 2nd Tuesday of September
17following the adoption of the resolution under s. 117.08 (2) or, 117.09 (2) or 117.105
18(2)
.
AB400,15,2119 2m. If a referendum is required under s. 117.08 (3) or , 117.09 (3) or 117.105 (3),
20on the 31st day following the date the order of reorganization is filed under s. 117.08
21(4) or, 117.09 (4) or 117.105 (4).
AB400, s. 21 22Section 21. 117.22 (2) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB400,15,2423 117.22 (2) (a) 1. The clerk of the affected school district that has the highest
24equalized valuation, if an order of reorganization is issued under s. 117.08 or 117.105.
AB400, s. 22 25Section 22. 117.22 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB400,16,4
1117.22 (2) (b) An order of school district reorganization issued under s. 117.08
2or, 117.09 or 117.105 shall designate the date of the first election of school board
3members, which shall be not later than 4 months after the effective date of the order,
4except as provided under par. (cm).
AB400, s. 23 5Section 23. 117.25 (4) of the statutes is created to read:
AB400,16,76 117.25 (4) Creations. When a school district is created under s. 117.105, all
7of the following apply:
AB400,16,128 (a) Any employe of a school district from which territory is detached by the
9reorganization who is laid off as a result of the reorganization has priority over other
10persons for 3 years after the effective date of the reorganization for new positions and
11vacant positions for which he or she is qualified in the school district that is created
12by the reorganization.
AB400,16,1713 (b) Any person who wishes to exercise his or her priority under par. (a) shall
14notify the school district that is created by the reorganization, in writing, that he or
15she wishes to be considered for any new position or vacant position and shall include
16in the notice the address to be used by the school district to notify the person of such
17positions.
AB400,16,1818 (End)
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