To the editor,

Ellsworth families, taxpayers, and community members: Our school district is facing nearly $2 million in cuts for the 2025-26 school year after a failed operational referendum, declining enrollment, and continued special education funding shortfalls. This is not sustainable for our students, our teachers, or our taxpayers. Please consider emailing Gov. Evers and asking him to bring the Legislature back together to address the special education funding shortfall and provide meaningful property tax relief. The most effective message is personal. Share who you are, why this matters to you. Please feel free to use this template and send to our elected officials:

Governor Evers,

My name is [YOUR NAME], and I am a [parent / taxpayer / educator / grandparent / community member] in the Ellsworth Community School District.

I am writing to ask you to bring the Legislature back together and work toward a deal that addresses the 2025-26 special education funding shortfall and provides meaningful property tax relief.

The Ellsworth Community School District experienced a failed operational referendum in April. This, coupled with declining enrollment, has forced the district to make close to $2 million in cuts for the 2025-26 school year.

Our community members have supported schools for a long time, but many residents have reached a point where they simply cannot carry any more property tax burden, even when they want to support our schools.

This matters to me because [ADD 1-3 SENTENCES ABOUT WHY THIS ISSUE MATTERS TO YOU PERSONALLY. Examples: your child attends Ellsworth schools, you are concerned about special education services, you value teachers and staff, you are worried about class sizes, or you cannot absorb more property tax increases.]

Simply stated, and at minimum, our schools need the aid that was put on the table before budgets were finalized last October.

Please help protect our students, support our schools, and provide relief to local taxpayers.

Thank you,

[YOUR FULL NAME]
[YOUR CITY / COMMUNITY]
[OPTIONAL: YOUR STREET ADDRESS TO SHOW YOU ARE A WISCONSIN CONSTITUENT]

Governor Tony Evers

• Email: govgeneral@wi.gov
• Phone: 608‑266‑1212
• Address: 115 East State Capitol, Madison, WI 53702 

2. U.S. Senator Rob Stafsholt

• Email: Sen.Stafsholt@legis.wisconsin.gov
• Phone: 608‑266‑7745
• Address: PO Box 7882, Madison, WI 53707‑7822 

3. U.S. Representative Rob Pronschinske

• Email: Rep.Pronschinske@legis.wi.gov
• Phone: 608‑237‑9128
• Address: 28th Assembly District, PO Box 8952, Madison, WI 53708‑8952

5. U.S. Representative Shannon Zimmerman

• Email: Rep.Zimmerman@legis.wi.gov
• Phone: 608‑237‑9128
• Address: 28th Assembly District, PO Box 8952, Madison, WI 53708‑8952

6. U.S. Senator Jeff Smith

• Email: Sen.smith@lgeis.wisconsin.gov
• Phone: 202‑224‑5653
• Address: 717 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510

Mandy Fleming

Ellsworth