Shawano School District Superintendent Kurt Krizan presented the Shawano School Board with 20 potential options for changes or cuts that would help the school district to reach its threshold of eliminating $1.6 million in operational expenses for its 2026-27 budget.
The board did not discuss the details of Krizan’s options. The vote on cuts could come at the board’s next meeting Feb. 23.
Eight of those options are seen as having a minimal effect on student learning, with cost savings ranging from $891,000 to more than $2.1 million. Five options are in a second tier, classified as having more of an impact, with potential savings of $800,000 to $1.4 million. The remaining seven are in a third tier and the most drastic; but combined, they have the potential to save up to $6.1 million for the district.
The biggest savings in the first tier of options would be to eliminate the block schedule at Shawano Community Middle School and Shawano Community High School. With a potential savings of up to $1 million, both schools would go to a seven-period day schedule instead of having four classes that meet every other day.
Another first-tier option with high cost savings would be to reduce staffing so that the teacher-to-student ratio falls more within the recommended classroom sizes, which is 18-22 at Hillcrest Primary School, 20-24 for third grade and 25-30 for fourth grade and above. The cost savings is estimated between $320,000 and $560,000.
A second-tier option would change the teacher-to-student ratios to 20-24 at Hillcrest Primary School and 25-30 at Olga Brener Intermediate School, SCMS and SCHS. That option would provide savings up to $800,000.
That ratio would also give the option of eliminating the Leads Charter School, an inquiry-based program, to the tune of up to $240,000 in savings. Currently, 96 students are enrolled in Leads and would be absorbed into Hillcrest, but 12 of those students attend through the open enrollment program, which gives the district additional funding of at least $11,000 per student.
A third-tier option involving the teacher-to-student ratio would set the range from 25-30 students at all schools, where the savings potential jumps up to $1.1 million.
One of the recommendations is to stop the current practice of offering 4-year-old kindergarten (4K) as a full-day program and return to a half-day program. The second-tier option would provide up to $200,000 in savings and would not impact the state funding received by the district, as each 4K student only counts as 3/5 of a full-time student, regardless of the program.
Other most drastic third-tier options include the following:
• Reducing or eliminating elementary school music or art. By state law, the programs must be taught in the schools under a properly licensed art or music teacher, but the proposal would require core classroom teachers to instruct in those fields instead of having separate classes. The option would reduce the time available for teachers to prep for classes. The estimated savings ranges from $80,000 to $320,000.
• Reducing or eliminating middle and high school elective offerings. The recommendation addresses allied arts classes like technical education, business, family and consumer sciences, art and music. The estimated savings is $80,000 at the lower end but up to almost $1.9 million with elimination of all the classes.
• Reducing student services staff. This would encompass counselors, social workers, psychologists and program support teachers. To slice and dice effectively, a needs assessment would have to be completed first, but the district estimates the maximum savings to be more than $1.4 million.
• Reducing student supports. This would look at interventionists, coaches and deans. A needs assessment would have to accompany this recommendation, but the maximum savings is estimated to be more than $1.1 million.
Krizan told the board the district is looking at reducing staff benefits, including family insurance plans and short-term disability, considered first-tier options. The latter option would no longer be funded by the district as it is now.
“We are still looking at a possibility of eliminating family savings plans as a benefit and looking at how we can redesign or incentivize the cash in lieu of (insurance) option,” Krizan said. “We are still working with our insurance broker … and we’re hoping to get some more information from that.”
Although the board did not discuss Krizan’s budget reduction options, one school district resident, Veronica Klemp, said she would be against anything that negatively impacts students’ education. Klemp noted that Shawano is ranked 348th out of 447 school districts in Wisconsin in math and reading levels.
“I understand enrollments are down, and budgets are tight, but not all budget options being considered are of equal weight,” Klemp said. “Any stated or implied option of children, families or educators quietly taking the fall for these issues is not equal or appropriate.”
Klemp said that staffing is already not enough, as seen by the amount of bullying reported. She said that bullying is already seen as young as 4K, and many reports are not resolved in a positive way.
“Only one question is needed: When something goes wrong, will the district offer solutions or excuses?” Klemp said.
She recommended reducing “administrative bloat” or unnecessary expenses as the best way to reduce its operations budget instead of reducing teachers or program offerings. She also opposed any options of virtual learning the district is offering.
“Real learning happens when staffing is sufficient and equipped to lead with understanding and creativity rather than reacting,” Klemp said. “Less supervision in unstable classrooms do not raise achievement, reduce bullying or rebuild trust. Reducing staff in an already strained system is sabotage.”
