Community and board clash over transparency as Kenosha considers changes to administrator benefits
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Summary
Residents and board members sparred over a hidden AST handbook and whether to grandfather administrator benefits; public commenters accused the district of secrecy and urged transparency while the board debated fairness, costs and workforce effects.
Public comment and board debate centered on the AST (administrator/supervisory/technical) agreement and its benefits, a subject that drew more than a half‑dozen speakers and sustained board discussion.
Several public commenters said the AST handbook and related benefit provisions were not easily accessible and described the terms as unusually generous. “Administrators or ASTs can be paid out for up to 60 days at their personal per diem rate upon retirement,” one commenter said after reviewing the handbook, adding that the separation of administrator benefits from the employee handbook appears deliberate and erodes trust.
Speakers argued that secrecy about the AST agreement undermined support for district referendums and generated perceptions of unfairness among the majority of employees. A different commenter said giving any grandfathered benefits to a small group would appear inequitable to teachers and other staff and could harm long‑term staff morale.
Board members debated options presented by administration — grandfathering existing employees, surrendering certain benefit carve‑outs, aligning benefits across groups, or rewriting handbook language — and pressed for clearer cost estimates and staff input from those in the technical category. One board member moved that no modifications be made to the AST group for the current fiscal year; that motion was made in the meeting record and discussed by multiple members before the board moved on to OPEB and related actions.
Administration said the AST agreement dates to 2006 and that changes to contracts or to handbook language will be governed by statute and contract timelines; HR and administration will meet with affected staff and provide updated agreements and options. The board heard both calls to act quickly for equity and cautions about unintended staff losses if benefits are reduced.
Next steps: The discussion will continue in upcoming meetings; administration has been asked to supply detailed cost information, conduct outreach with affected employee groups, and include those details in future agenda materials.