Wausau School District Looks to Tackle Growing Deficit

Friday, March 15th, 2024 -- 8:00 AM

(Sabrina Lee, WAOW) The Wausau School District looks to tackle a growing deficit, one nearing $3.5 million, and leaders say all options are on the table.

According to Sabrina Lee with WAOW, all that red ink took center stage at Monday's school board meeting. District officials went over several options to try to figure out how to make up that money.

Superintendent Keith Hilts said the district's revenue limits are tied to its student enrollment, a number that has been decreasing. Additionally, 45% of students are considered economically disadvantaged, a percentage that is considered fairly high.

Deficit numbers reflect current staffing and a 3% salary raise. $1.2 million is related to positions added in response to the COVID-19 pandemic through a federal grant program.

Some of their options to shrink the deficit included staff cuts, limited salary changes, reducing current expenses, as well as other solutions like cuts to course options.

"That is a reality of registration, which I think is very important so we get a good idea, so we don't have random departments losing sections because we wanna cut them," said James Bouche, President of the Wausau School Board. Additional options could emerge as discussions continue, but no decisions have been made at this time.

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