Chapter 120 — SCHOOL DISTRICT GOVERNMENT

120.001 Applicability. This subchapter applies to common and union high school districts.

120.01 Number of school board members. In common or union high school districts, school boards shall be composed of the following number of members: (1) A common school district operating elementary grades or a union high school district shall have 3 school board members, except …

120.02 Method of changing number, apportionment or election of school board members. (1) CHANGE IN NUMBER OF SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS. If, at least 30 days prior to the day of the annual school district meeting, in a common or union high school district, or at least 70 days prior to …

120.05 School board officials. (1) (a) The members of a school board shall be the officers of a school district. (b) In the case of a 3-member school board, the school district president, treasurer and clerk shall constitute the school board. At the first election of a 3-member s…

120.06 Election of school board members. In a common or union high school district: (1) The school board shall be elected at the spring election. (2) (a) Except as provided under par. (b), school board members shall be electors of the school district and shall be elected at large…

120.07 School board member; refusal of salary. (1) In this section: (a) “Salary” means the annual salary for a school board member or the amount for each school board meeting the school board member actually attends. (b) “School board member” includes a school board memberelect. …

120.08 School district meetings. Every elector of a common or union high school district is eligible to vote at an annual or special meeting of the school district. (1) ANNUAL MEETING. (a) Common school districts shall hold an annual meeting on the 4th Monday in July at 8 p.m. an…

120.09 Consideration of special subject. If in a common or union high school district at least 60 days prior to the annual meeting a petition is filed with the school district clerk signed by 100 electors requesting that the annual meeting consider a special subject or item of bu…

120.10 Powers of annual meeting. The annual meeting of a common or union high school district may: (1) CHAIRPERSON AND CLERK. Elect a chairperson and, in the absence of the school district clerk, elect a person to act as the clerk of the meeting. (2) ADJOURNMENT. Adjourn from tim…

120.11 School board meetings and reports. (1) The school board in a common or union high school district shall hold a regular meeting at least once each month at a time and place determined by the school board and may hold special school board meetings under sub. (2). A majority …

120.115 Report on debt service. (1) (a) Within 10 days after adopting a resolution that authorizes the school board to incur debt or that authorizes the common council of a 1st class city to incur debt on behalf of the school district operating under ch. 119, the school board sha…

120.12 School board duties. The school board of a common or union high school district shall: (1) MANAGEMENT OF SCHOOL DISTRICT. Subject to the authority vested in the annual meeting and to the authority and possession specifically given to other school district officers, have th…

120.123 School and school district accountability reports. Beginning in September 2016, and annually thereafter, each school that maintains an Internet site shall, if the school is included in the most recent accountability report published under s. 115.385, within 30 days after …

120.125 Before- and after-school child care. (1) In this section, “before- and after-school child care program” means a program that provides child care services before school, after school, or both before and after school. (2) (a) A school board shall permit a child care provide…

120.13 School board powers. The school board of a common or union high school district may do all things reasonable to promote the cause of education, including establishing, providing and improving school district programs, functions and activities for the benefit of pupils, and…

120.137 Long-term capital improvement trust fund. (1) In this section, a “long-term capital improvement plan” is a capital improvement plan for at least a 10-year period. (2) A school board that has approved a long-term capital improvement plan may create a long-term capital impr…

120.14 Audit of school district accounts. In a common or union high school district: (1) At the close of each fiscal year, the school board of each school district shall employ a licensed accountant to audit the school district accounts and certify the audit. The audit shall incl…

120.15 School district president; duties. The school district president of a common or union high school district shall: (1) Countersign all checks, share drafts or other drafts for disbursement of school district moneys. (2) Defend on behalf of the school district all actions br…

120.16 School district treasurer; duties. The school district treasurer of a common or union high school district shall: (2) Apply for, receive and sue for all money appropriated to or collected for the school district and disburse the same in accordance with this subsection and …

120.17 School district clerk; duties. The school district clerk of a common or union high school district shall: (1) Report the name and post-office address of each officer of the school district, within 10 days after the election or appointment of the officer, to the clerk and t…

120.18 Annual school district report. (1) Annually at such time as the department prescribes but after the end of the school year and no later than September 1, the school district clerk of a common or union high school district shall file a verified annual school district report…

120.20 School board members; compatible positions. (1) A school board member may serve as a volunteer coach or a supervisor of an extracurricular activity if all of the following apply: (a) The school board member does not receive compensation for serving as a volunteer coach or …

120.21 School board contracts for courses. (1) (a) The school board of a union high school district or a common school district operating elementary and high school grades may contract: 1. With the University of Wisconsin-Extension for extension courses for pupils enrolled in hig…

120.25 School board cooperation in acquiring school facilities. (1) Two or more school boards may by written contract executed by all participants to the contract, own, construct, lease or otherwise acquire school facilities including real estate located within or outside the bou…

120.40 Applicability. school districts. This subchapter applies to unified History: 1985 a. 225 s. 80; Stats. 1985 s. 120.40.

120.41 Composition of school board. (1) A school board of a unified school district may have 5, 7 or 9 members. (2) The number of school board members may be changed in accordance with s. 120.02 (1). A plan of apportionment of May 22, 2026, are designated by NOTES. (Published 5-2…

120.42 Election of school board members. (1) (a) Except as provided in pars. (b), (c), and (d), school board members in a unified school district shall be electors of the school district and shall be elected at large, at large to numbered seats or at large to an apportioned elect…

120.43 School board meetings. (1) Annually, on or within 30 days after the 4th Monday in April, the school board shall elect a school district president, vice president, clerk and treasurer from among its members and a school board secretary who need not be a member of the school…

120.44 School board powers and duties. (1) A unified May 22, 2026, are designated by NOTES. (Published 5-22-26) 21 Updated 23-24 Wis. Stats. school district is a body corporate with the power to sue and be sued, to levy and collect taxes, to acquire, hold and dispose of property …

120.45 School board member; refusal of salary. (1) In this section: (a) “Salary” means the annual salary for a school board member or the amount for each school board meeting the school board member actually attends. (b) “School board member” includes a school board memberelect. …