School Deficit Proposal Won't Involve Mass Layoffs

In outlining the specifics of his proposal for addressing a $2.3 million deficit expected by the Muskego-Norway School Board, Superintendent Joe Schroeder stressed that "where possible, we have pursued workforce reductions through attrition, rather than layoffs."

Indeed the largest portion of the proposal reflected a $920,297 savings from staff reductions.  Recommendations included not replacing five retiring professional staff - one administrator, two teachers, one reading specialist and a social worker - which would net more than half of the savings at $469,957.  An additional $337,136 would be realized in replacing 23 retiring teachers with 19 new hires, two transfers and two staff recalls from layoff.

In other areas, retiring staff's workloads would be split among other workers, as in the case of the Education Services receptionist.  Others at the elementary schools would see a cut-back in paid days from 260 to 225.

There were layoffs, however.  A proposed redesign of pupil services would include the layoff of 1.4 (full time equivalent or FTE) counselors, the loss of a counselor to retirement and reassignment of two others.   With the previously mentioned recall of staff members, the net impact ended up at 0.3 FTE.

Schroeder stressed that it was as important to review what was not in the proposal as well.  "We aren't realizing a change in class sizes, we aren't talking about mass layoffs, we aren't recommending a massive fee increase, nor are we discussing cuts to extracurricular programs," he said.

Schroeder also reminded everyone that the board will have until May to debate and discuss the recommendations and alternatives, and as they were first given the proposal Monday night as well, no action needed to be taken.