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District explains AST reclassification, grant‑funded positions and $15 million OPEB shortfall
Summary
Administrators walked trustees through historical reclassification of miscellaneous staff into the AST (administrative, supervisory, technical) group, grant‑funded positions versus district‑funded roles, and reported an OPEB unfunded liability of about $15 million (about $80 million total liability, $65 million funded).
Kenosha Unified staff provided trustees a historical summary of administrative, supervisory and technical (AST) staffing and a status update on the district’s other post‑employment benefits (OPEB) funding.
Staff said a 2016–17 reclassification moved about 35 full‑time equivalent positions from a previously unrepresented “miscellaneous” group into the AST category, which created an appearance of administrative growth in historical charts without a true net head‑count increase. The presenter asked trustees to consider that context when reviewing historical AST figures.
The district described both district‑funded and grant‑funded AST positions, noting that many roles tied to Title I, IDEA and ESSER grants remain supported while the grants are active; some grant‑funded positions from prior years are no longer in place. “Everything in 24–25 here, these are still supported by the grant,” a staff member said.
On retiree benefits, staff said the most recent actuarial study put total OPEB liability at about $80 million with approximately $65 million held in the trust — leaving roughly $15 million unfunded. “That’s the assets in the trust… So it’s 15,000,000 unfunded,” a district presenter said.
Trustees discussed the long‑term nature of OPEB changes and the limited near‑term savings from modifying benefits promises: staff said phasing out enhanced retiree health benefits would create long‑term savings but little immediate budget relief.
Administrators also described steps to find savings through attrition at AST and other administrative levels, vacancy management and program reductions to align staffing levels with available funding. Staff reiterated that grant funding and eligibility affect which positions remain funded and emphasized the need to distinguish grant support from ongoing district obligations.
