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District outlines program and budget review, Hanover Research partnership and $1M in staff reductions
Summary
Administration reported progress on a comprehensive program review (48 items), a $40,000 contract with Hanover Research for comparative analysis, 11 positions eliminated (approximately $1 million in savings), nine positions frozen, and fund-balance planning tied to the recent operational referendum.
District administrators updated the Stevens Point Area Public School District board on Sept. 9 about the program and budget evaluation process, including a new external partnership and personnel changes intended to identify long-term efficiencies.
Chris (presentation lead) told the board the review expanded from 42 to 48 identified programs and that 41 of those programs have been reviewed so far. The district has engaged Hanover Research, a firm that conducts educational comparative analysis, for about $40,000 (paid from the educational services budget) to perform comparative work on course offerings, graduation requirements and related items.
Staffing and savings: The district reported 11 positions eliminated (equal to roughly 10.0 full-time equivalent positions) yielding about $1,000,000 in annual savings. Administrators said an additional nine positions remained frozen or pending while they determine whether responsibilities can be absorbed elsewhere or should be permanently restructured. The position review covered 328 positions; 308 were kept “fill as is.”
Referendum and budget context: Administrators said the 2024–25 operational referendum provides roughly $8.75 million in additional dollars and that a separate per-pupil increase (about $325) contributes an estimated $2.1 million — together about $10.8 million in new revenue. Officials also said the district closed 2023–24 with a projected $5.1 million deficit that will be addressed with referendum funds and that planned increases in wages ($2.3 million) and health insurance ($2.0 million) are factored into the projection. The presentation listed $400,000 for TSA benefits and $100,000 for sick-leave payouts among near-term costs and noted administrators plan to earmark $900,000 to rebuild fund balance.
Fund balance: The presentation cited district policy 6235, which calls for maintaining a minimum fund balance equal to 20% of general and special education fund expenditures. Administrators said the baseline target is roughly $24 million; projected fund balance without additional ear‑marks was about $18 million for 2024–25, and the $900,000 earmark would move the projection to about $19 million.
Next steps: Officials said they will complete the remaining program reviews and use Hanover’s comparative analysis to identify further efficiency opportunities. Administrators also plan to translate review results into budget actions with measurable savings to present to the board in the coming months.
Ending: The board received the informational report; administrators said the process will continue and that further recommendations and figures will be provided as the program review and budget planning continue.
