SHAWANO, WI- The Shawano School District has provided options for budget cuts to help fix a budget deficit heading into the next school year.
At the school board meeting on Monday, Superintendent Kurt Krizan offered a list of possible options. Before the meeting, the school board and Administration all weighed in on scoring the option, placing them in three categories of low, medium or high impact.
 District leaders emphasized the lists are strictly exploratory and are meant to show the full scope of options under consideration, not final outcomes.
Administrators also addressed concerns among staff, stating employees should not be worried about losing their jobs at this time. Officials say the information was presented to support discussion and long-term financial planning only. If staffing reductions were ever required, the district says some could occur through retirements or resignations already submitted, rather than new layoffs.
The district is currently facing a projected $1.6 million budget deficit; however, administrators say that projection already includes cost-of-living increases for all positions. As a result, staff should not expect wages to be frozen.
See the document from the District below
2026-27 Budget Reduction Recommendations
Tier 1 recommendations focus largely on operational efficiencies and staffing adjustments. Options include
-transitioning short-term disability coverage to a voluntary benefit
-reducing the district’s share of health insurance premiums
-redesigning the high school administrative team
-cutting contracted services.
-increasing class sizes to current staffing ratios
-moving Shawano Community Middle School and Shawano Community High School from a block schedule to a seven-period day.
Tier 1 proposals could generate between approximately $891,000 and $2.15 million in savings.
Tier 2
-reducing extracurricular and stipend positions
-increasing class size limits across the district
-eliminating the LEADS Charter School
-transitioning 4K from a full-day to a half-day program
-offering Advanced Placement and college-credit courses through virtual or Start College Now options instead of in-house instruction.Estimated savings in Tier 2 range from roughly $800,000 to $1.42 million.
Tier 3
-reducing or eliminating elementary art and music instruction
-cutting middle and high school elective offerings,
-increasing class sizes district-wide,
-reducing student support services such as counselors, social workers, interventionists, paraprofessionals, and other support staff.
Tier 3 proposals could result in savings ranging from about $1.17 million to more than $6 million, depending on the scope of reductions.
District leaders say the next phase of the process will focus on gathering information and receiving input from staff and the community.
The Board and administrative team held a work session on January 8 to review and score potential budget options using a rubric.
To allow for public feedback, the Board of Education will host two community listening sessions:
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Wednesday, January 28, from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m.
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Monday, February 2, from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m.
Both sessions will be held in the District Office Community Room and are open to staff and community members.
District officials also clarified that recent classroom visits by district leadership are not connected to budget discussions. Administrators say the visits are intended to better understand student and staff experiences and observe classroom activities firsthand.
No changes have yet been made to retirement notification deadlines, though the district plans to ask the Board on January 28 to consider extending the deadline from February 1 to March 1.
School officials say staff will continue to receive updates as the process moves forward and encourage anyone with questions or input to contact the district directly.
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