Anticipated Boost in Enrollment Results in Proposed Addition of Teachers

Shorewood would slightly increase teaching staff under the latest version of the school district's 2012-13 budget, presented Tuesday.

Superintendent Blane McCann's latest version of the budget has the district $80,000 in the red, compared to the $429,949 starting point a few months ago. A suggested a surplus about $167,000.

He outlined for the school board some of the significant changes, which included the addition of a sixth-grade teacher at Atwater and two instructional aides at Lake Bluff, . McCann is also proposing the elimination of a half-time kindergarten teacher at Lake Bluff and a reallocation of a full-time teaching position to the high school, though McCann said it will likely be used to fill needs in different courses.

"It's a good sign that our enrollment continues to grow because it will begin to help with our revenue," McCann said.

McCann said the district anticipates losing about $112,000 in revenue after it became clear the district would lose about $500 per student instead of the $220 increase officials were projecting. McCann proposed adding six open enrollment students to help offset the reduction.

"It’s sort of one of those unintended results of Act 10," McCann said.

A recommendation to eliminate payments for teacher credits — a line item that would save roughly $28,000 — raised concern from board member David Cobb. He said teachers have been the target of many cutbacks in the district; why continue to take from educators.

The district is still looking forward to major savings from staff turnover and a change in its provider health care insurance for district employees.

As veteran educators retire, the district hires younger teachers at a lesser salary. McCann has said the district is projected to save $257,615 with .

The and said they plan to change providers from WEA Trust to Wisconsin Counties Association Group Heath Trust, saving $472,104. The district would remain with WEA for dental insurance, and save $19,661.

McCann’s proposed budget also still includes a series of new expenditures. Chief among them is the hiring of a permanent, full-time director of instruction.

The district has $132,000 budgeted for the position but would offer a $110,000 salary and $35,700 benefits package, $13,700 more than what’s in the budget. Several principals share the role of director of instruction.

Additionally, officials have proposed hiring a full-time development/marketing director at a cost of $75,000 who would work full-time to market the district and its image, in an effort to increase enrollment and donations to the district.

The district is also looking at a $70,000 computer technician.

The financial shortfor for 2012-13 pales in comparison to recent deficits that have ranged between $772,000 and $1.95 million. Business Manager Mark Boehlke has credited the drop to the shifting of retiree benefits and refinancing of pension benefits, .

What's next

School officials are expected to vote on a preliminary budget at a June 26 meeting. The budget isn't formally adopted until October.