Shorewood superintendent outlines budget pressures, enrollment decline and community engagement plans

Superintendent Lori Burgess updated trustees on school programming, budget pressures and long‑term planning, saying the district is balancing educational priorities with fiscal responsibility as the operating referendum passed in 2023 approaches its 2028 expiration.

“Last year, we engaged in a strategic planning process... the Shorewood School District is an inclusive community that values, supports, and challenges every student,” Burgess said as she outlined fall highlights including state championships, a Violins of Hope residency and new programs at middle and high school levels. She also said the district faces enrollment and funding challenges: “We serve just under 1,900 students right now,” and a demographer’s study projects the district could lose about 100 students over the next 15 years.

Burgess reviewed fiscal figures for fiscal year 2026, saying expenses are just over $30,000,000 and revenue is just over $31,000,000, with an increased reliance on local property taxes given state aid shortfalls. She reminded trustees the operating referendum approved in April 2023 (passed at nearly 72% in Shorewood) expires in 2028 and urged ongoing community engagement and careful resource alignment.

The district plans a task force to evaluate school and program configuration scenarios that balance fiscal parameters and educational goals. Burgess asked trustees to participate and announced a community input session scheduled for March 2, 2026 at the high‑school library.

Next steps: staff will circulate the demographer’s enrollment report to trustees and finalize the task‑force membership before winter break; the district will hold community input sessions and the board will monitor task‑force recommendations ahead of any future referendum planning.