The 2023-24 staffing proposal and food service contract were approved by the Neenah Joint School District Board of Education at its March 21 meeting.
The Board also approved a defeasance of $4,220,830 that will be moved to an escrow account to prefund a portion of the referendum debt from 2020. The funds will be paid in 2038 and 2039 and will save taxpayers $1,279,417. The prepayment also generates additional state aid for the District in future years.
The staffing proposal had no changes from what was presented on March 7. It includes a reduction of 4.47 full-time equivalency (FTE) positions, primarily due to increased efficiencies in the school consolidations and attrition in ESSER-funded positions that will no longer be funded in 2024-25. None of the reductions result in layoffs as they would be consumed through unfilled retirements and resignations.
Two counselors have been added, giving every K-4 school a full-time counselor, as well as a behavior interventionist at the high school and middle school magnet and special education teachers. There will also be an additional hiring in the maintenance department and Curtis Bartlett, the District STEM coordinator, will take on additional duties as an administrator at the middle school while continuing in his current position.
The District received only one bid for the food service contract, but it was from existing provider Chartwells. The District has established a strong relationship with Chartwells over the past 12 years and Chartwells was integral in the design of the kitchens at the new high school and future Neenah Middle School. Chartwells guarantees a return of at least $350,000 to the District annually. It is a one-year contract that allows for up to four one-year renewals.
The Board approved a resignation for high school teacher Jennifer Kramer, effective June 2.
Administration also provided a review of the spending of ESSER dollars that were one-time dollars to assist with costs associated with the pandemic and supplant educational expenditures in the 2021-23 biennial budget.
The next meeting is scheduled for April 18. There will only be one meeting in April and no meeting on April 4 due to spring break.
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