Fond du Lac board weighs $3.5 million in cuts and possible school closures ahead of referendum

Fond du Lac School District officials outlined a plan to find $3.5 million in budget reductions at a workshop held after the board's regular meeting, saying the cuts are needed unless additional revenue is approved. District administrators told trustees the district’s low mill rate and falling enrollment make reductions unavoidable unless state funding or a successful referendum changes the picture.

The district’s administrative team presented a color-coded list of options (green/yellow/red) that included eliminating up to six library media specialist positions, reducing elementary counselor coverage, cutting educator-development roles, reducing stipends and reassessing certain central-office posts. Administrators said some reductions could be mitigated by retirements or resignations but warned that services and class sizes would be affected.

“None of these choices are good,” a board member said during the discussion, reflecting the sentiment that cuts would have real classroom and support impacts. Administration repeatedly emphasized trade-offs: the district is aiming to keep kindergarten through grade 2 class sizes near 20, stretch grades 3–5 toward about 25, and accept middle- and high‑school classes that can reach 30–33 students in some rooms.

Officials also outlined school consolidation as a longer-term option to secure savings beyond the immediate $3.5 million target. They estimated that closing a school could yield approximately $1.5 million in savings but said any closure would require at least a year of planning for boundary adjustments, transportation, and staffing. Administrators cautioned that closures were not planned for next year but said the board needs to decide whether to include closure planning alongside the referendum work.

Board members pressed administrators for a clear public timeline tied to the referendum and for specifics that voters could evaluate. Trustees also underscored the district’s safety and capital priorities: administrators said that if a referendum fails, a previously proposed $4 million high‑school project and districtwide camera upgrades would likely be postponed.

Administration committed to returning to the board with more detailed scenarios and timelines. The board voted to move the discussion forward to subsequent meetings; no binding personnel actions or closures were approved at the session.

What’s next: district staff will refine savings scenarios, provide the board with proposed timelines for any consolidation planning, and present a vote on a subset of recommended “green” items at the next meeting.