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Board defines charge for financial‑sustainability task force, weighing $5.5M vs. $4.5M operating‑referendum scenarios
Summary
The board directed staff to form a community task force to evaluate school‑configuration and program scenarios that could keep future operating‑referendum needs near either $5.5 million or $4.5 million per year, and asked the task force to weigh educational quality, equity, facility costs and community impacts.
The Shorewood School Board discussed and narrowed a proposed charge for a financial‑sustainability task force, seeking community input on options to keep the district's operating‑referendum requirement within identified targets.
Director Heveland framed two scenarios for the task force to analyze: first, models that would keep the operating referendum near the current $5.5 million per year; second, deeper change to reach $4.5 million per year. He emphasized that each scenario should be evaluated against clear parameters including academic impact, student experience, equity and access, facilities and long‑term financial sustainability.
"Show us what 5 and a half million dollars a year looks like, show us what 4 and a half looks like," Heveland said, asking for concrete models the task force could analyze. Board members urged that the task force also include a 'do‑nothing' status‑quo model (the inflationary path that could push future referendum needs to about $6.5–$7.5 million) so the community can see tradeoffs.
Discussion covered possible levers the task force should consider: staffing and benefits, reconfiguration or consolidation of school buildings, open enrollment changes, and alternative revenue streams such as open‑enrollment tuition and fundraising (staff said those streams are limited). Several members stressed the need for representative committee membership and clear charges to avoid confusing or unwieldy options.
Staff said they will draft a concise charge and timeline, plan community forums and return with language for board feedback; the board signaled support for a focused set of scenarios accompanied by evaluations of educational consequences, costs and implementation timelines.
