Muskego-Norway Not Planning Layoffs Just Yet

Officials with the Muskego-Norway school district are not sending out preliminary lay off notices.

Superintendent Dr. Joe Schroeder confirmed today, Feb. 25, that because the district has settled contracts with its faculty and some of its other staff, lay off notices will hold until after Governor Scott Walker releases his budget next week. Contracts are good through the end of the school year.

"Lay offs could be wide-ranging, but it all depends on the budget," Schroeder said. "And the budget repair bill certainly plays a part in all that."

Specifically, Schroeder said, the district's budget process extends through May and takes into account the level of state aid the district will receive as well as the revenue cap law that restricts the increase in property tax a school district can levy.

In years past, the school district would typically get an increase in state aid, broken down into a cost per student. The district is projecting a decrease in state aid, which means a loss in the cost per student. Once Walker releases his budget and the district has the numbers it needs to start their own budget process, Schroeder must deliver proposed estimates to the school board by March 21. The board then has until May to deliver a budget.

"Without the budget repair bill controversy, we would already know what we're looking at," Schroeder said. "But given the guidelines for our budget process, getting the numbers next week still gives us enough time to meet our deadlines."

Morale throughout the district was described as "concerned." But, Schroeder, added, he is very impressed with the professionalism faculty and staff throughout the district have displayed.

"Our schools haven't closed and students have not missed class because of the budget protest," he said. "I know our residents are proud of that, too."