Manitowoc district reviews personnel report, approves hires while noting layoffs tied to enrollment decline

The Manitowoc Public School District board approved the personnel report during its meeting after questions about hires, resignations and layoffs.

Board members discussed a personnel slate that included 10 recommended hires and noted roughly 8–9 resignations and about 2.5 layoffs, with the district earlier reporting 21.4 full‑time equivalent (FTE) reductions tied to declining enrollment. "We're staffing to our enrollments," a district administrator said during the discussion.

The board asked whether any of the recommended hires required licensure with stipulation. The superintendent's office indicated that one hire — a special education teacher — "may be licensed with stipulation," meaning the board would approve the hire with the expectation the new hire completes the state certification process.

Board members pressed district staff on retention efforts. "I hate to see us losing people while we're hiring people because that's a very mixed message," said Board Member Christopher Abel, who asked whether the district was working to find placements for staff affected by reductions. District leaders responded that where certifications allow, many staff were being slotted into other positions; of the 21.4 FTE reductions, administrators said 18 individuals were offered other positions because of their certifications, leaving the remainder without available placements.

The board voted to accept the personnel report following a motion and second. The vote completed the consent agenda after the personnel item was pulled for discussion.