Madison Metropolitan School District leaders are planning staff cuts at some schools just four months after voters passed a tax referendum to increase district funding, The Capital Times reports.
District administrators recently notified principals of their staff numbers for the next school year, and some found that the district is allocating fewer positions for their schools, according to School Board member Nicki Vander Meulen.
While the district has not yet shared with board members the specific schools to which the reductions will apply, staff at East High School and O’Keeffe Middle School have said they are expecting cuts.
Spokesperson Ian Folger said MMSD is still in the process of finalizing staff numbers for each of its schools, and potential changes will be discussed at a meeting next Monday. Still, some principals have already told staff they will be reassigned to different schools or may lose their job next year based on district directives, Vander Meulen said.
The property tax hikes voters approved in November will help fund $100 million for MMSD’s day-to-day operations over the next four school years, but officials said the district will still face a $22.9 million deficit. Superintendent Joe Gothard said roughly 80% of the district’s expenses come from staff salaries and benefits.
