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KUSD proposes adding community liaison at Mahone using Fund 80 and DCFS partnership
Summary
District staff proposed adding an eighth Fund 80 community liaison position to place a community liaison worker at Mahone (the only comprehensive school currently without one). The position would be half‑funded by KUSD and half by the Department of Children and Families (DCFS); DCFS has approved funding for calendar year 2025. The board was asked
Kenosha Unified staff asked the board to approve adding an eighth community liaison position—funded through the district’s community services levy (Fund 80)—to place a community liaison at Mahone, which district staff said is the only comprehensive middle or high school currently without one.
District staff said the community liaison program is a nearly 30‑year community partnership program funded via a district referendum (Fund 80). The program is a cost‑split arrangement for many positions: for the position under discussion the district would pay half and the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families (DCFS) would pay the other half. Staff reported DCFS approved funding for the calendar year 2025, and the district asked the board to extend the 2024–25 budget timeline to align with DCFS’s budget calendar and to commit the district’s half of funding so the position can be placed at Mahone.
Staff described the role as working with students on attendance, behavior, credit attainment and community service connections; positions exist at multiple middle and high schools and are sometimes shared across school catchments. The program is funded from Fund 80 (community services fund), which the district CFO explained is supported by a dedicated tax levy approved by voters and restricted to community services (not general operations). The CFO said Fund 80 cannot be shifted back into the general fund.
District staff told the board they can absorb the district share of the position within current Fund 80 reserves and do not propose a levy increase. DCFS and community impact partners will be available at the full board meeting to answer questions when the item returns for board action.
No final board vote to add the position occurred during the special meeting; the proposal will return to the full board with DCFS representatives present for discussion.
