Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget Staffing topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Oshkosh superintendent apologizes as district reveals $10.9 million forecast shortfall and staff reductions
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Davis apologized to the board for budgeting and forecasting errors after staff reductions (65.8 positions total) and a revised spring deficit estimate of $10.9 million; the board engaged an outside consultant to review budgeting and postponed some compensation decisions.
Dr. Davis, the district superintendent, apologized to the board on April 22, saying the district’s budgeting and forecasting process produced unacceptable results and pledging immediate corrective steps.
“We want to be transparent,” Dr. Davis said, acknowledging the errors and stating, “I take responsibility as a superintendent here for what has been a process, that we've gone through, just related to a poor budgeting and forecasting process which has resulted in what you'll see tonight.”
Why it matters: the district told the board that spring staffing reductions amounted to 22 full‑time equivalent positions (roughly $2.0 million in savings) and that combined with earlier reductions the total staff reductions this cycle are 65.8 positions. Administrators also reported roughly $1.1 million in non‑staff budget reductions, bringing the board’s cumulative reduction package to about $7.8 million. Even so, the district reported a revised spring forecast deficit of $10.9 million—nearly double the $5.5 million shortfall the board had been using for planning.
Board members pressed for specifics and assurances. One board member described the situation as “unacceptable” and warned that forecasting failures had eroded public confidence; another urged structural changes to give budget work clearer focus. Several members welcomed the administration’s decision to bring in an independent reviewer.
Next steps: the administration said it has retained a third‑party consultant identified in the meeting as Todd Grama (listed as a WASB consultant) to audit the district’s budgeting and forecasting processes; the consultant is expected to begin work in May with an updated recommendation scheduled for the June 11 board meeting. Dr. Davis also emphasized that classroom teachers will not be part of further reductions.
Clarifying details from the meeting: - Spring staffing reductions: 22 FTE (~$2.0M savings) announced in the April staffing process; combined with previous reductions the total is 65.8 FTE. - Additional non‑staff reductions: about $1.1M. - Total reduction package identified: approximately $7.8M. - Revised spring deficit forecast: $10.9M (presented as current estimate on April 22). - Consultant: identified in the meeting as Todd Grama (consultant with WASB); timing: work to occur in May with recommendations by June 11 (tentative).
Board reaction and context: several board members said the district needs a clearer, more reliable forecasting process before asking the public for further support. One board member urged that budget and academic accountability be presented together so the public can judge progress before the next operational referendum cycle.
The board did not take a final action on the budget at the April 22 meeting; administrators said follow‑up work and a revised recommendation will come in June.
