GBAPSD
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The Green Bay Area Public School District is preparing for the worst in case a new two-year state budget isn’t passed in time for next school year.
If that were to come true, the school board would face tough decisions.
The Green Bay Area Public School District projects it will have a $10 million to $12 million budget deficit next school year if funding stays at is now, which would be the case if the state legislature does not pass a budget by July 1st.
“We are not the only district in the state of Wisconsin, 420 of us, that are facing a deficit,” said Superintendent Vicki Bayer. “At some point the state of Wisconsin has to realize we can’t keep cutting without hurting our children.”
A budget deficit is nothing new for the district. The school board has voted to close six elementary schools in recent years and has cut its workforce by 10-percent through attrition.
If the current deficit holds, district leadership recommends the school board consider freezing base wage negotiations for one year, or until a state budget is passed, to save $6.1 million.
Freezing wage increases for employees that reach certain seniority milestones, referred to as “stepped” increases, would save another $2.2 million.
Closing the district’s virtual school, freezing ride stipends for students, and having employees pay short term disability insurance are among other suggestions from district leaders.
“This is a what if drill, at least that’s what we called it in the military,” said school board member Rick Crossen. “What if this condition shows itself, what do we do.”
Board members vary on their concern level – some confident state legislators will fund education to keep up with inflation.
“The sky has just never fallen and the surplus has never or almost never been this big,” said Andrew Becker, a school board member.
Others appreciate the district is prepared in the event things drag out in Madison.
“I think they’ve shown a fiscal conservative approach that has allowed us…to avoid catastrophic consequences,” said James Lyerly, a school board member.
The school board typically passes its annual budget in the fall.
Monday night, the school board was scheduled to discuss more DEI related changes related to a risk of losing federal funding.
The board did not discuss the proposals, but is scheduled to vote on them at its next meeting.
Comments