ONLINE FIRST: Wauzeka-Steuben School District asks residents to ‘be part of the solution’ regarding district budget
On Monday, Oct. 24, the Wauzeka-Steuben School District conducted its Annual Meeting. At this meeting, District Administrator Robert Sailer presented information on the basics of school funding for public schools in the state of Wisconsin. He also reviewed the financial history of the district and the projected expenditures and revenues for the 2016-2017 school year.
As published in the District Budget Summary for the 2016-2017 school year, the district’s expected revenues are $4,006,875 and the projected expenditures are $4,455,564; this creates a deficit of $448,689. To cover this deficit, the district will be forced to use a portion of the fund balance. Based upon the listed projections at the end of the 2016-2017 school year, the fund balance will have a remaining balance of $152,898. Board Policy 662.3 Fund Balance explains that the school board would like a budget with a targeted goal of 17 percent of the total General Fund expenditures reserved for fund balance purposes. At current projections, the fund balance will be at 3.5 percent by fiscal year’s end.
This is a manageable situation, not unique to Wauzeka-Steuben, that will be resolved, according to district officials. A few hundred school districts in the state of Wisconsin have been in this same situation over the past two to three years. To create a balanced budget moving forward, the district will need to evolve and adapt. This evolution can take place in many different ways. To ensure the future of the district matches the corresponding expectations of the community, there will be community meetings held to provide recommendations to the Wauzeka-Steuben School Board.
The first meeting will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 2 at 6 p.m. in the Hornets’ Nest. This date is different than the date presented at the Annual Meeting because of a previously scheduled township meeting. There will be a total of three community meetings. The first meeting will consist of two parts. The first part will be a quick review of school funding and the current status of the district’s financials. Second, community members will brainstorm on how to address the deficit. All community members’ suggestions and recommendations will be heard and documented.
The second meeting, tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 9, starting at 6 p.m., will be to review the ideas from the first meeting, add any additional ideas, and then examine the pros and cons of each idea. The third meeting is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 15. The purpose of this meeting is for the committee to determine what recommendations should be taken to the School Board based upon the discussions from the first and second meetings.
Upon completion of the first two meetings, two to three representatives will be selected to meet with the board for an open session special board meeting tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 16. The following Monday, Nov. 21, during its regular monthly meeting, the board will discuss in open session the recommendations brought forth by the community and will provide directive(s) to District Administrator Robert Sailer on how to proceed.
The School District is in the business of education. Its end goal is the production of well-educated students who, upon graduation, can enter the workforce, join the military, successfully earn a college degree, or follow whatever dreams they may have. Historically, the board has listened to its constituents and among other decisions during the past few years has made staffing and hiring decisions based upon feedback they received from the community.
The Board of Education and administration are asking for district residents’ input at this time. The district must evolve. Doing nothing is not an option, according to the School Board and district officials.
Those who share their opinions can make a difference. Those who wait until a decision is made and then state their opinion may be too late.
“We ask that you share your opinion now so decisions can be made based upon what is in the best interest of our students (many of them your children, grandchildren and neighbor’s children) and our community. Please join your local community members to plan the future of your district on Wednesday, Nov. 2, at 6 p.m.,” said members of the Board of Education, district administration, staff and students in a letter to district residents.
