Janesville board approves 2025–26 staffing plan; net 5.25 FTE increase estimated at roughly $500,000

The Janesville School District Board of Education on Tuesday approved the district—s 2025—26 staffing plan, voting unanimously, 8—0 to 0, to adopt an enrollment-driven proposal that district staff said will increase net certified staffing by about 5.25 full-time equivalent positions and cost roughly $500,000.

District presenters told the board that the plan is intended to prioritize lower teacher—pupil ratios in transition grades and to respond to changes in enrollment across elementary, middle and high schools. A presenter summarized the approach: "those numbers represent teachers, which represent then, in front of kids," and asked trustees to approve the plan so principals could finalize sectioning and assignments (presenter, Janesville School District).

Why it matters: The plan targets smaller class sizes in grades K—2, sixth and ninth—grades, which the district identified as transition years where additional adult contact can affect academic outcomes. Trustees were also told the plan responds to a significant increase in special-education need and to enrollment fluctuations that vary by building.

Key details - Net staffing change: district staff presented a net increase of 5.25 certified FTE for 2025—26. The presenter estimated a fully loaded FTE (salary plus benefits) at about $90,000, producing a midrange cost estimate of roughly $450,000—$500,000 for the net change. - Elementary schools: presenters reported an overall elementary decrease of 3 FTE driven by lower enrollment at several elementary schools (district enrollment down 75 students at elementary level as of the January 28 count), while noting kindergarten counts remain uncertain until later enrollments finalize. - Middle schools: projected increases concentrated at Edison (an increase of about 35 students) produced an estimated 2.63 FTE increase largely in sixth-grade core and exploratory (special-area) staffing. - High schools: the district described a roughly 1.05 FTE enrollment-driven reduction in high-school staffing based on course sign-ups, but overall high-school scheduling changes were reflected in the net district total. - Special education and EL: presenters said special-education certified staffing will increase (presenters described an increase of about eight special-education positions overall year-over-year). English Learner (EL) staffing was shown to increase by 1 FTE at the secondary level. - Paraprofessionals and support staff: the enrollment-driven plan does not include the non-enrollment-driven support positions such as counselors, school psychologists and other specialists; the district said those remain part of a separate staffing and budgeting conversation.

Board discussion Trustees thanked committee members and district staff for prior review at the Policy, Personnel and Curriculum committee. Trustees asked for detail on how "overloads" (extra teaching sections) are assigned; presenters said overloads are assigned by certification and departmental needs, with principals and instructional managers working together to distribute sections. When asked for target ratios, presenters said the board—s objective is to hold K—2 classroom ratios around 1:20 (typically higher in other grades), with ninth-grade targets in the mid-20s and sixth-grade targets at about 25 or less.

Vote and next steps The board voted to approve the 2025—26 staffing plan. The motion to approve the plan was made by Greg Ardrey; a second was recorded but not named in the transcript. The vote tally was recorded as unanimous, 8—0 in favor; Commissioner Dahmerhausen was absent.

Ending District staff said principals will continue to finalize schedules, travel assignments and any needed overloads as enrollment updates arrive through the spring. Staff warned kindergarten counts remain a variable and said the plan authorizes adjustments as necessary before the school year begins.