Beloit district officials report small enrollment uptick, 113 vacancies and staffing gaps in 4K and DLI programs

District administrators presented an enrollment and staffing update Tuesday, saying membership and revenue-limit FTEs were a little higher than early projections but that the district faces persistent staffing vacancies and building-level class-size pressures.

Assistant officials told the Board of Education that budget estimates for membership were only slightly below the district’s October 15 third‑party verification and that the final revenue-limit membership number is a few students higher than projected. Administrators cautioned that enrollment and course selections remain fluid through winter and that district FTE calculations differ from simple head counts because of pre-K, 4K and charter adjustments.

The administration reported staffing totals and composition: teachers represent about 59.89% of budgeted staff and paraeducators about 18.25%, with roughly 718 total FTE budgeted positions. District staff reported about 113 vacancies at the time of the presentation: 45 teacher positions and about 31 paraeducator positions, with the remainder covering pupil‑services and building subs. Administrators noted that roughly half of those unfilled positions are being covered temporarily by placements from a third‑party staffing agency.

Board members, led by Carol Fox, repeatedly asked for a detailed, building‑level staffing plan showing the number of sections, students per section and the location of counselors, social workers and other support staff. Fox said the high-level report did not meet her request and urged the administration to provide a per‑school tabulated workbook that lists current enrollments, sections and staff assignments prior to finalizing the budget. Administrators said they would share the full workbooks and noted some were already included for middle and high schools.

The board and staff discussed 4K and dual‑language immersion (DLI) course configurations. Administrators said some 4K classrooms were approaching 25–28 students and that the district had budgeted funds for two additional 4K positions (roughly $200,000 with benefits). They said principals and cabinet members were meeting to determine whether to create consolidated 4K classrooms on each side of town to reduce very large sections and to ensure there is licensed staff to cover new sections. The administration also described closures or repurposing of some DLI sections where certified DLI teachers were not available.

Principals and building leaders described on-the-ground effects: Aldridge’s principal said paraeducator and special‑education needs remained the district’s top hiring challenge; Fruzen’s principal described using permanent building substitutes and agency staff to cover extended absences. Beloit Memorial’s scheduling spreadsheet was discussed at length; administrators noted that high school master scheduling constraints (teacher certifications, AB day scheduling and course prerequisites) can produce both small specialized sections and large sections in required courses.

Administrators said they will provide more detailed staffing workbooks for all buildings, clarify which vacant positions are covered by third‑party placements, and return to the board with recommendations from a cabinet meeting scheduled the following day. Board members emphasized the time sensitivity because the annual budget adoption meeting was scheduled for Oct. 27.