Board anticipates $822,000 deficit
By Angie Landsverk
Putting off the purchase of elementary language arts textbooks and contracting for food and custodial services are two ideas being discussed in the Weyauwega-Fremont School District.
They are among the considerations as administrators anticipate a budget deficit of about $822,000 for the 2018-19 school year.
The district’s fiscal year runs from July 1 through June 30.
Budget cuts being proposed by the administrative team would drop the deficit down to $316,000, according to District Administrator Scott Bleck.
He said the district could then use its fund balance to offset the remaining deficit.
Drew Niehans, the district’s business manager, said the district is projected to have a $4.4 million fund balance.
Bleck noted the numbers being discussed are preliminary ones.
The school board discussed the topic last month and again on April 9.
The elementary English and language textbooks are due for replacement next school year.
The current textbooks are not aligned with the Common Core standards, Kandi Martin told the board last month.
Martin is the district’s director of pupil services/curriculum.
While the textbooks are not aligned with the standards, she said the elementary teachers are teaching the standards.
Elementary Principal Doug Nowak said each standard and sub-standard is being taught and assessed at the elementary level.
Martin said each part of the curriculum is replaced every seven years.
The replacement of science and social studies textbooks is more critical and takes place more often, she said.
Maps of some parts of the world continue to change was one example Martin cited related to geography.
Changes in language arts textbooks are based on cultural sensitivities, she said.
For example, pictures in the newer books show blended families, Martin said.
She said it would cost $70,000 to $127,000 to replace the K-5 English/language arts textbooks.
Because the district has implemented Project Lead the Way, it bought PLTW textbooks, beginning in the 2016-17 school year.
The district also did not purchase any textbooks this year because of the budget, Martin said.
She said teachers use technology more in the classroom, and board member Kurt Duxbury said the district has done a lot to improve access to it.
Bleck said the process to choose and order new textbooks is nine months minimum.
It would be a push to have new elementary language arts textbooks by the fall, he said.
“So when will we start looking for 2019-20?” board member Sandy Smith asked.
Martin said the process will start in the fall.
“Ultimately, the board will set the priorities as we move forward,” Bleck said.
The oldest material the district ever had before was 7 years old, Martin said.
Now, it will have material that is 9 years old, she said.
Food, custodial
Contracting for food and custodial services is also being discussed.
Bleck said contracting for food services is not a new idea and is something other area districts are doing, including Waupaca, New London and Hortonville.
“Increasing participation is the goal, which increases profitability,” he said.
Board members asked how it would affect staffing.
The vendor would bring resources to build the staff’s skills, Bleck said.
“They know there are known individuals in the district working well and would look to the current staff to meet the needs. But then they become employees of the vendors,” he said.
Board member Jim Stuebs asked Bleck to find out if anyone lost jobs in the Waupaca or New London school districts after those districts switched to contracting for food services.
Bleck agreed to do so.
He wants board approval for a Request for Proposals.
That is expected to be on the agenda when the board meets on Monday, April 23.
A similar conversation is taking place in regard to contracting for custodial services.
“If we move this direction, they (the district’s custodial staff) would be potential employees of the vendor,’ Bleck said.
Smith said it would be important to know the retention rate.
Other budget reductions being proposed are CESA 6 services, staffing and the technology and maintenance budgets.
Bleck said a reduction in professional staffing could take place through attrition or moving staff from one position to another.
“As student demographics change, so do staff needs,” he said.
Bleck also said some planned maintenance repairs could be shifted to another year.