Development News for Wauwatosa, Wisconsin

District Presents Preliminary 2026-2027 Budget, Prioritizing Staff Compensation and Educational Investments

The committee discussed the preliminary budget for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, focusing on operating budgets for Funds 10 and 27. Projections indicate an increase in local revenue, primarily from property taxes due to a chargeback, and a conservative estimate of a 15% decrease in state aid. Personnel costs, including a 5.2% average teacher salary increase and a 4% increase for other staff, are the largest expense. The budget also incorporates investments in curriculum development (approximately $1.5 million for the current year, with math curriculum adoption planned) and technology upgrades. The goal is to increase the fund balance to 10.5% of prior year expenditures, aiming for a projected end-of-year fund balance of $9.91 million (7.57%) for the current year and $10.5 million (10.5%) for the next year. The budget aims to maintain low class sizes and student-teacher ratios while reducing administrative FTEs. Investments include $100,000 for cleaning services and a million and a half dollars for curriculum this year, with potential for technology lease financing. The district has a history of finishing better than budget and is rebuilding its fund balance.

District Seeks Single Transportation Provider to Enhance Efficiency and Control Costs

The committee discussed the upcoming RFP for transportation services. The district currently uses a piecemeal approach with multiple providers, leading to inefficiencies and difficulty in cost estimation. The goal of the RFP is to consolidate services under a single provider to improve customer service, reduce administrative workload, and stay within a budgeted cost. Three vendors were interviewed, and preliminary pricing was obtained. The preferred provider has suggested potential cost savings by offering flexibility on certain parameters, such as bus ride duration (e.g., reducing from 45 to 40-42 minutes). The district is currently in negotiations to determine the best route structure and potential savings. Moving to a single provider is expected to simplify management for the People and Family Department and potentially free up buses for in-district shuttles and co-curricular activities. Board approval is anticipated in June, with the new system in place by September. The goal is to achieve service improvement and cost efficiency.

Boys & Girls Club Selected as Preferred Provider for Before and After-School Programs

The committee received an update on the Request for Proposal (RFP) process for before and after-school wrap-around services. The selection committee, consisting of Mr. Ecker, Mr. Martin, and others, has narrowed down four initial vendors to two. The primary vendor selected is the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Milwaukee, chosen for its strong programming and ability to maintain current price points. A letter of intent is being presented to the board for negotiation and signing, which will allow the business office to finalize contract details. A key change will involve a more formal rental agreement with the Boys & Girls Club, moving away from the previous vendor's revenue-generation model, with efforts to ensure this does not increase costs for families. The process is structured to ensure good programming and maintain affordability.

District Faces Critical Need to Upgrade Aging Wireless Infrastructure

The committee discussed the status of wireless infrastructure updates, focusing on the need to replace aging and unsupported equipment. The current wireless and switching infrastructure is no longer manufactured, available for purchase, or expandable, leading to reliability issues and requiring ongoing contingency funding. It is also incapable of supporting future instructional, security, or operational goals. The expected lifespan of such infrastructure is 8 years, and the current system is in its 10th to 11th year. The technology operations team has been defining requirements, engaging vendors, and selecting solutions, considering factors like cloud-based vs. on-premise management, capacity needs, bandwidth, resiliency, security, and sustainability. The next steps involve proposal acquisition, technical and financial assessment by a selection committee, and identification of a preferred solution, which will then be presented back to the committee.