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District to absorb $917,000 Title I cut; board outlines savings and potential options
Summary
Superintendent Vicki Bayer told the board that Title I federal allocations will fall about 12%, costing the district an estimated $917,000 for 2026–27; the board reviewed completed savings and additional measures under consideration to address the shortfall.
Superintendent of Schools Vicki Bayer told the Green Bay Area Public School District Board on April 13 that the district will lose roughly 12% in Title I funding for the 2026–27 school year, equating to an estimated $917,000 reduction.
Bayer said the change stems from how Title I funds are distributed at the state level: Wisconsin's poverty rate has stayed relatively the same while other states saw increases, and a district's allocation depends on its poverty rate compared with other districts in the state. She said the district's local poverty rate declined, contributing to a “double whammy” for Title funding.
District staff shared immediate steps and cost-saving measures. Revised Title I allocations were sent to principals and staff expect to shift Title funding and use Title I carryover to cover staffing needs for 2026–27; Bayer noted carryover will not be available for the 2027–28 school year and that further adjustments will be needed then.
Completed and projected savings listed to the board included:
- Moving employee flu and COVID vaccinations back to pharmacies or clinics, saving about $50,000. - Health insurance modifications projected to save approximately $775,000. - Discontinuing credit card fees, saving about $18,000. - Planned reduction of over 100 full-time-equivalent positions for the 2026–27 school year through attrition and consolidation (not detailed to the level of specific positions in the packet).
In-progress and proposed measures discussed included pausing administrator tuition reimbursement for 2026–27 (a formal recommendation would be brought to the board), reducing or freezing summer professional development (David Johns is reviewing options), cutting some software contracts, reducing contracted custodial services in some areas, deferring non-referendum facilities projects (Kale's budget includes about $3.5 million in that category), and considering print restrictions and adjustments to facility rental fees.
Bayer emphasized the board had ruled out certain options for 2026–27 such as implementing layoffs (a reduction-in-force), increasing student fees (the recommended fee schedule proposed no increases), and stopping the live streaming of board meetings. The board did note that reducing the number of school days could be considered for 2027–28.
Board members asked clarifying questions about timing: a member confirmed the "over 100 FTE" reduction refers to staffing levels for 2026–27 once planned actions are implemented.
Next steps: staff will bring policy recommendations (including a proposed pause on administrator tuition reimbursement) and any formal action items to the board for approval as needed.
