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Shorewood board outlines next steps for task force on long-term finances and possible school reconfiguration
Summary
District leaders briefed the board on a task-force process exploring four school-model scenarios tied to long-term financial sustainability; staff said any significant model would likely require an operating referendum and asked the board to set criteria and possible financial targets at an upcoming workshop.
Board members and staff discussed next steps for a district task force working on long-term financial sustainability and potential school reconfiguration.
Speaker 6 (identified in the meeting as Lori) described a task-force meeting with just over 40 community, staff and family participants that worked through four conceptual scenarios. She said the groups feedback is being analyzed and that the board will need to help set criteria and, possibly, financial targets that would guide scenario ranking.
Speaker 6 told the board that regardless of which model is recommended, the district would likely need to return to the community for an operating referendum before the districts current referendum expires in 2028. She recommended a board workshop to review the seven criteria used in the scenarios and to consider whether the board wants to set financial boundaries (for example, a not-to-exceed referendum funding target) that would inform the committees work.
Board members discussed scheduling an initial workshop (possible Feb. 10) and whether the workshop should take place before or after a community meeting on March 2. The superintendents office said the workshop would be an open meeting but intended for board deliberation and could include board-only exercises; staff also proposed engaging student focus groups and providing additional public prework to improve the quality of dialogue.
Speaker 6 emphasized that the task forces recommendation will be advisory and that the board retains final decision-making authority but should calibrate expectations with the committee as the work continues.
