Students performing as part of Green Bay High School's Fine Arts Institute. (Photo: GBAPS)
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The Green Bay Area Public School District continues to look for ways to cut costs, saying it’s looking at an $8M shortfall going into the next school year.
Officials say declining enrollment, lower-than-budgeted state aid for special education and other factors are contributing to the problem.
District leaders have been gathering community feedback on how to close the gap.
Some options include no pay raises for staff, increasing fees, lowering the number of school days, closing pools or delaying technology purchases.
Specialty programs, such as fine arts, may also be impacted, as the district evaluates its return on investment.
The Fine Arts Institute at East High School is safe — for this coming year.
But after that, its future is up in the air.
The Green Bay East Performing Arts Parents organization is asking people to attend the next school board meeting on Monday, March 23.
The deficit problems are projected to be much worse starting in 2027.
That’s because a 10-year, $16.5M referendum that passed in 2016 expires.
Monday’s School Board meeting begins at 6 p.m. at the District Office Building, located at 200 South Broadway Street in Green Bay.
Those who would like to speak, must fill out a speaker form ahead of time.
Fine Arts Institute Program Coordinator Lucinda Roberts is planning to retire at the end of this school year.
She wrote a letter to parents saying the school board announced it is not going to fill her position. “As far as I know, the Institute will continue to run for next year (26-27), but I know anything in regard to the 27-28 school year,” said Roberts. “The Fine Arts Institute is one of those incredible pieces that even for students that aren’t members, they gain great opportunities and experiences.”
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