KUSD narrows 2025–26 shortfall with $4.8 million in reductions and 42.84 FTE cuts

Kenosha Unified School District trustees voted to adopt administrative recommendations that reduce the district's projected 2025–26 shortfall by roughly $4.8 million, including 42.84 full‑time equivalent (FTE) positions and several non‑staffing cuts.

The board heard an update from Mr. Hampton, who said, "This is an update to the 25-26 budget. I emphasize that word update because this budget is going to be done incrementally." Administrators told the board the district's revenue picture had improved modestly because of a $325 per‑pupil state increase and other categorical aid assumptions that together add about $3.5$3.8 million in revenue, but declining enrollment and other costs still left a budget gap.

Why it matters: the package changes staffing and program decisions affecting classroom support, library and technology positions, extracurricular funding and districtwide contracts. Administration said the recommended reductions were designed to close the shortfall while keeping the district within existing policies.

Key decisions and details - Enrollment: administration reported a projected full‑time equivalent (FTE) enrollment reduction of about 550 students for 2025–26 (an increase from earlier projections of about 350). That decline lowers revenue tied to per‑pupil aid. - Revenue change: district staff reported roughly $3.5$3.8 million in additional revenue from state actions (including the $325 per‑pupil line‑item). - Reductions: the board approved a package that administration said nets approximately $4.8 million in reductions. That package included 42.84 FTE reductions across categories and non‑staff cuts such as a $50,000 reduction by replacing MAP testing with AIMSwebPlus and a trimmed recognition/awards budget (reduced to $5,000 from $50,000). - Staffing approach: administrators described increases to class sizes where allowable by policy, reassigning some non‑classroom personnel back into teaching roles, elimination or non‑replacement of some administrative/supervisory/technical (AST) positions through attrition, and reductions in ESP clerical and middle‑school online support positions. - Fine arts and athletics: the board reviewed recommendations to reduce district contributions for some theater festival funding and to limit district‑funded solo/ensemble events to three funded entries per student; athletics equipment was proposed for a 30% cut, though rising officials' pay under WIAA will offset much of that projected savings.

Board discussion and process Board members asked for additional scenarios for preserving high‑school teacher prep time; Dr. Weiss and other administrators cautioned that repurposing large numbers of FTE would create second‑ and third‑order impacts that are difficult to predict. Mr. Bridal and others asked administration to model options showing tradeoffs if the board wanted to prioritize high‑school prep time.

Vote and next steps The board voted to approve the recommended staffing authorizations and the non‑staffing items described by administration (the motion covered 42.84 FTE reductions and lines 19 through 23 of the presented reductions). The vote was taken by voice; the chair announced the motion passed. Administration said this budget update is not final and additional updates will be provided as state budget details and enrollment figures are finalized.