District proposes $35.7M in priority investments for 2025–26, including grow‑your‑own teacher pipelines and custodial staffing

Chief budget staff and program directors presented possible 2025–26 operating investments on April 21 and outlined a schedule to present a preliminary budget for board action in late June. The staff package combines baseline roll‑forwards with new strategic and equity proposals.

The administration outlined two tables of priorities. Table 1 included step and lane adjustments and a 2.95% CPI assumption (estimated $10.1 million), a proposed 20‑FTE unallocated pool for enrollment flexibility, continuation of class‑size policies and an allocation adding roughly 12 FTE compared with 2024–25 primarily to preserve K–1 small classes and expand full‑day 4K. Table 2 totaled roughly $15.2 million and included items proposed for new or continued funding: health insurance baseline renewal estimates (~$11.3M), dental/long‑term disability (~$0.8M), a second cohort for the Grow Your Own associate‑degree teacher pipeline (budgeted per‑cohort tuition and stipends), continuation of leadership pipeline (DLPP), subsidized substitute bonus continuation, and expanded summer programming including a pilot Freedom Schools site with plans to expand next summer.

Talent development and pipeline programs drew detailed explanations. Jen Chevi (talent development) summarized Grow Your Own programs: a cohort pathway that partners Madison College with UW–Madison to move district staff through an associate degree, into a bachelor’s and teacher certification; full tuition, books and a stipend (about $17,000 per participant) were elements of the model; preliminary costing on cohort expansion was included. An accelerated licensure program for special education (a two‑year master’s pathway) and a district leadership preparation pipeline (DLPP) were cited as having strong participant diversity and external grants. Staff said cohort programs include wrap‑around advising, developmental coursework funding and service agreements.

District leaders proposed adding 11 FTE custodial staff to serve new referendum square footage and to reduce overtime; the administration said custodial overtime and workload increases are costly and raise injury risk. The presentation included a market adjustment for trades positions, citing local wage comparisons and recommending step and lead‑worker changes to improve recruitment and retention.

Cindy described 4K expansion plans: the district will add multiple full‑day 4K sections next year and expand community partner slots (about 120 more wrap‑around slots at community sites). The district reported third‑grade intensive summer literacy increases and a plan to run two Freedom Schools sites in summer 2026 at approximately $120,000 per site.

Nut graf: Administration proposed an initial $35.7 million package of investments for 2025–26 that mixes baseline cost growth (pay/benefits) with strategic equity items — grow‑your‑own teacher development, expanded 4K and custodial and trades staffing — while warning that projected increases in health insurance and market volatility create budgetary uncertainty.

Board members asked for more detail on selection criteria for Grow Your Own cohorts, the sequencing of capital and operating costs, and the relationship between rapid housing growth pockets and school allocations. Staff said they maintain a weekly development watch with City of Madison planning to track residential permits and feed those data into capacity planning.

Ending: Administration scheduled additional budget amendments and community communications and asked trustees to flag items for further analysis ahead of a June preliminary budget vote.