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Board approves 2025–26 staffing plan and renews nearly 400 teacher contracts after enrollment discussion
Summary
The West Bend School Board approved the district’s 2025–26 staffing plan and contract renewals for certified staff, following a presentation from Assistant Superintendent Lenny Hanson explaining the plan is a living document driven by registration and cohort trends; the board unanimously approved both items.
The West Bend Joint School District No. 1 Board of Education voted unanimously to approve the district’s 2025–26 staffing plan and to issue contract renewals to certified employees, following a detailed presentation about the district’s enrollment analysis and staffing process.
Assistant Superintendent Lenny Hanson told the board that state statute requires school districts to offer contract renewals to teachers by April 30, and that staffing decisions are driven primarily by enrollment, registration trends and long-term cohort data rather than by short-term budget cuts. Hanson described the staffing plan as a “living document” that will be adjusted through the remainder of spring and the summer as registrations and transfers are finalized.
A substantive example discussed at the meeting involved Jackson Elementary’s rising third-grade cohort. Hanson said the plan reduces one third-grade section at Jackson (from three sections to two) because the cohort lost students over the past year and because the district’s historical norms call for larger maximum class sizes in higher elementary grades. Hanson and district staff said they will continue to monitor registrations closely and can add staff mid-summer if actual enrollments increase.
Student-services leadership addressed special-education staffing. Mel Strand, director of student services, explained special-education and paraprofessional allocations are driven by IEP team decisions, head count and a state matrix that defines support needs. The budget slide in the presentation showed a net decrease in special-education paraprofessional (support staff) hours compared with the prior plan; district staff said allocations will continue to be adjusted based on incoming IEPs and caseload changes.
Board members and district staff discussed parent concerns that arose after the plan circulated. Board members asked the administration to communicate directly with families in affected grades to explain cohort trends, the staffing-planning process and contingency plans for adding sections if enrollment rises. Hanson said the district has in the past hired teachers as late as mid-summer when enrollment increases require it.
Votes and motion details: the board moved to approve the 2025–26 staffing plan and seconded the motion; the roll call vote recorded seven yes votes and no negative votes. The board then approved renewals for approximately 398 certified staff members; the administration said no layoffs were necessary and renewals will be issued following board action.
What’s next: district staff will continue weekly monitoring with school principals and the registrar through summer registration cycles and will report back to the board if class sizes, staffing or caseloads require additional action.
