The Shawano School Board received some backlash March 23 to its decision four weeks earlier to reduce staff to balance next year’s budget, hearing concerns that music programs and other things could be hurt as a result.
According to Superintendent Kurt Krizan, adjusting staff to its original student-to-staff ratios would save the district $1.34 million, with other measures expected to bring the savings to $1.77 million. The student-to-staff ratios for the district are 18-22:1 for Hillcrest Primary School, 20-24:1 for third grade and 25-30:1 for the grades after that.
The vote at the time was 8-1, with board member Bobbi Lemerond voting against the measure for fear education gains made in the last couple of years could be lost if the district doesn’t maintain its current staffing.
Dan O’Connell, a Shawano Community Middle School teacher, expressed concern that music programs could be cut in the district after attending a meeting March 10 with the Shawano Performing Arts Boosters and being asked what was happening with music at SCMS, especially the choir program.
O’Connell said he learned in other meetings that the middle school is looking at reducing its daily classes from six to five, which he fears could impact all elective programs, including music.
“I was told, much like all of you, that people shouldn’t worry about their jobs and that programs would not be cut,” O’Connell said, noting that he’s been receiving mixed messages on scheduling changes at both SCMS and Shawano Community High School. “The public was assured that the deficit and the (November 2024 $51.2 million) referendum were two different things. Who’s going to use the tech ed classrooms when they’re being told they need to teach other classes in order to maintain their FTE (full-time equivalency)?”
O’Connell also questioned what good an orchestra pit was going to be at SCHS if middle school music programs where “hamstrung.”
“I’ve been told by Mr. Krizan that all of these decisions are still up in the air,” O’Connell said. “If that is the case, then why is the middle school being mandated to go to a five-section schedule? This will effectively eliminate electives for students.”
O’Connell recounted the mass exodus of teachers and administrators in 2022 when the district was also faced with a seven-figure deficit and noted that teachers that remained, like him, stayed quiet for fear of retaliation. He said that fear is no longer a factor, as conditions have worsened, in his view, and his trust in the district is gone.
“Frankly, I’m not sure I want to work in a district that allows these cuts to happen,” O’Connell said. “Is this board ready to face the scrutiny that the board four years ago faced? There are ways to trim our budget, but this isn’t the way.”
Matthew Pfantz, a SCHS music teacher, also rebuked the board for the cuts and said “shock, disappointment and disgust” with the plans to cut operational cuts. He said that district staff feel unheard.
“Let me be frank — we have failed,” Pfantz said. “We have lied repeatedly with intent. Our staff culture and climate is at an all-time low, and our students are paying the price.”
Pfantz accused district officials of having “toxic positivity” and trying to put the district in a good light when there are problems like the budget that need to be addressed openly.
“Have we been honest about this process?” Pfantz said. “Have we intentionally held back important, clarifying information? Have we chosen our words to muddy our intent or shift responsibility to other people?”
Parent Mindy Frimodig brought up the district’s continued declining enrollment and feared it would worsen if programs are scaled back or eliminated.
“Every change that I’ve heard so far is going to make the problem worse,” Frimodig said. “I don’t know what the right answer is, but to cut these programs that represent the district so well is not that.”
The SCHS jazz bands have gained national recognition not only for their talent, but for their behavior, Frimodig said. She is concerned about talk about eliminating one of the bands to save money.
Parent Dan Krone also discouraged cutting anything around the music programs in the district. He noted that music teaches teamwork and cohesion just as well as sports and other programs. Music also teaches how to accept criticism and other life lessons.
“Our music program is tantamount, second to none,” Krone said. “Our choir, orchestra, bands — these are something that should be celebrated.”
Oliver Burrows, a SCHS business teacher, said he fears the restructuring plans for the middle and high schools could have a negative impact on students being ready to enter the world of work if they decide not to go on to college. He noted that having the discussions only involving district staff eliminates the points of view from students, community members and others.
“The bottom line is, when we don’t look at the consequences in terms of preparedness for building community or getting people into the workforce, two-year school, four-year school, even the military, we do everybody a disservice,” Burrows said.
lpulaski@newmedia-wi.com
Shawano Community High School music teacher Matthew Pfantz expresses his “disgust” about the recent staff reduction for the Shawano School District and how programs like his music programs could be negatively impacted during the community comments at the March 23 Shawano School Board meeting. (Lee Pulaski | NEW Media)
Shawano Community Middle School teacher Dan O’Connell speaks to the Shawano School Board on March 23 about how he has lost all trust in the district after the recent decision to trim staff to help plug up a $1.6 million deficit in next year’s budget. (Lee Pulaski | NEW Media)
