Referendum Success in Rural Communities - a Panel Discussion

Learning Presentation
Presentation Date:
Presentation Time:
Location:

Handouts

Audience:


DESCRIPTION:

‍ ‍Session Description: In this panel discussion, attendees will learn from case studies of three rural districts who passed recent operational referenda. Moderated by Brian Nicol, Partner at Donovan Group, hear how these superintendents developed communication strategies and tactics to engage and inform voters about critical funding needs in their schools. Bring your questions!

PRESENTER: Tom Burkhalter, Superintendent - Reedburg, Panelist

Tom is starting his second year as District Administrator in Reedsburg following five years as Superintendent in Viroqua. While in Viroqua, Tom led a successful operational referendum campaign comeback that turned a narrow 2024 referendum defeat into one of the largest margins of support statewide in April of 2025. In his first year in Reedsburg, Tom led another successful comeback campaign, passing an operational referendum in April 2026.

PRESENTER: Todd Felhofer, Superintendent - Shall Lake, Panelist

Todd is beginning his sixth year at the helm in Shell Lake after previously serving as District Administrator in Greenwood. Under Todd’s leadership, Shell Lake passed its operational referendum on a third attempt in April 2026 by a two-vote margin.

PRESENTER: Wendell Quesinberry, Superintendent - Tomahawk, Panelist

Wendell is in his fifth year serving as District Administrator in Tomahawk after previously serving as middle school principal there. He led Tomahawk to a successful operational referendum renewal in February 2025, maintaining critical momentum for the five pillars of the district’s strategic plan.

PRESENTER: Brian Nicol, Donovan Group, Moderator

Brian joined Donovan Group as a partner in 2023. He serves school districts in Wisconsin specializing in strategic communication consulting, survey research, and referendum community engagement campaigns.

Before joining Donovan Group, Brian was director of communications for the Howard-Suamico School District when HSSD won the Wisconsin School Public Relations Association’s top honor, the Lighthouse Award in 2015 and 2020. The district was also recognized with a Gold Medallion award from the National School Public Relations Association for its successful 2018 operational referendum campaign, conducted in partnership with Donovan Group.