July 2, 2025 3:30p
(WGTD)---School districts in Wisconsin continue to assess the impact of state and federal budget decisions.
In Racine Unified, the tentative state budget will give the district in each of the next two years an extra $7 million or so in special education funding from the state. But RUSD Superintendent Soren Gajewski says those funds may have to be used to offset possible federal cuts. "We appreciate so much the community of Racine--the greater community--for what they have done in terms of supporting us," he said. "I wish that meant I would not stop talking about financial and budget issues."
Gajewski was referring in part to voters' approval this past spring of a referendum that'll allow the district to exceed levy limits over a five-year period, unlike what happened in Kenosha Unified where voters rejected a referendum, putting KUSD in a tighter spot than its neighbor to the north. Voters' rejection of a referendum in KUSD was for a request to exceed levy limits by $23 million in each of the next five years.
KUSD Superintendent Jeff Weiss says his district’s anticipated increase in special education funding ($3.5 million and $4.7 million) won’t be enough to offset the cost of covering some big ticket items that have been delayed, such as putting in new secure entrances at some schools, replacing some old technology and addressing some major maintenance items. "It won't cover that work, but overall the $4 million will help us and we will use it as effectively as we can," he said.
Public schools in Wisconsin had been pushing for a 60% reimbursement rate which would've meant $11 million for Kenosha Unified.
Weiss says the tentative state budget deal, assuming it's approved, won’t mean an end to talk of attempting another operating referendum next year.
-0-