Kenosha Unified outlines cuts, staffing moves and program holds after failed referendum

Kenosha Unified School District officials presented a revised budget plan on March 25, saying the failure of a recent referendum will require program and staffing changes and the deferral of several capital projects.

Superintendent Dr. Weiss told the board the district now projects about $3.5 million in additional revenue next year, in part because state aid changes and updated enrollment estimates. At the same time, the district is forecasting a decline of roughly 550 students, which shifts some aid timing and will reduce enrollment-related funding in later years.

The budget review grouped items into three categories: long-term holds, short-term holds and reductions. Long-term hold items include planned controlled-entrance upgrades, security-hardware updates and “high school prep time,” which the district said it will not fund in the near term. Short-term hold items include restoring the technology refresh and major maintenance budgets; the district proposed reducing major maintenance from $2,000,000 to $1,000,000 for the coming year. Reductions under consideration include staffing adjustments, program cuts and larger class sizes in some grades if savings cannot be found.

Dr. Weiss said the district had previously presented the referendum framing to explain the budget shortfall under a scenario in which the listed items were funded; he cautioned the public about misinformation. “We were not saying we had a 19,000,000 or a $23,000,000 deficit. Words matter here,” he said, explaining that the $23 million figure represented the cost of a broad set of items the referendum would have addressed, not an immediate operating gap.

The presentation showed the district adopted an $800,000 deficit budget for the current year and had earlier identified a structural deficit in the $1.8 million range. Officials said they had also set aside about $1 million in case certain state aid exemptions were reversed. The referendum scenario had included roughly $25.8 million in additional expenses versus about $3.5 million in added revenue, producing the higher shortfall that formed the basis for the ballot question.

The district also cited inflationary and contractual cost increases that affect baseline spending: UnitedHealthcare premiums were estimated to rise to 9.9 percent (down from an earlier projection of 11 percent), dental rates were projected to rise about 6 percent, and transportation contract increases will add further pressure.

Board members and staff discussed possible savings ideas presented during the meeting. The district said it would examine non-classroom staff reassignments, freeze some recognition/retention budgets, and pursue attrition for administrative, supervisory and technical (AST) positions rather than immediate layoffs. Converting Indian Trail’s academy model to a “pathways” structure was estimated to save about $500,000 through lower transportation and staffing costs, district staff said.

The budget presentation noted existing federal ESSER-funded items that the district will need to re-fund locally when grant money expires. The district emphasized the projection is early in the budget cycle and could change depending on the state budget and other variables.

Board members requested follow-up detail on specific staffing categories and program impacts. Several board members urged that K–3 classroom sizes be protected where possible. Superintendent Dr. Weiss said if a districtwide pay freeze is adopted it would apply to all salary increases recently approved, including his own contract increase.

Clarifying details and next steps: district staff said they will continue reviewing support-staff groups (ESP/ASP), administrative vacancies for possible non-replacement, user fees for co-curricular activities, and potential reductions or restructuring in fine arts and athletics. Officials said they will return to the board with more granular savings options as staffing reviews and state-budget developments continue.