School Board OKs Preliminary Budget, Extends Deadline for Retirees

The Port Washington-Saukville School Board approved a 2011-12 preliminary budget Monday night, as well as an extension to the deadline for retirement applications — a move that should save the district another $200,000 next year.

"At this time we are at a position of being balanced to set up the documents for the budget hearing, which is in June," said Jim Froemming, director of business services.

However, the budget would only be balanced if eight more district staff members decide to retire, he said.Sixteen staff members already have said they will retire and officials are confident that eight more will do the same.

The original deadline to retire was Feb. 1, but the board on Monday agreed to extend that to May 10.

Because of cuts in state aid under Gov. Scott Walker's budget, as well as a hold on local property tax rates that prevents the district from simply increasing its tax levy, was tougher than in the past, Froemming said.

Combining the costs of incoming teachers as well as the savings because of additional retirees leaving their positions, Froemming said he came up with an average savings of $25,000 per additional retiree.

The district also expects to save $124,700 because of a 2.9 percent drop in its health insurance rates and is planning to get a $279,448 health insurance retiree federal rebate.

The district will save another $69,000 by not replacing one of the retiring teachers.

In addition, a surplus of open enrollment students, combined with a larger number of seniors leaving than coming, should result in $99,675 in savings. And the district will save $45,000 from restructuring the Nova Net and Port Washington High School learning center programs.

In other action at Monday's meeting:

• Teacher to head to grad school: The School Board approved the resignation of Joshua Haake, the director of bands at the Port Washington High School. "To find somebody of Josh's caliber is going to be a challenge," said High School Principal Duane Woelfel," but there'll be a pool of candidates."
• Candidates lining up for elementary school position:  Superintendent Michael Weber said the district received 63 applicants to replace Lincoln Elementary School Principal Eric Burke , where Woelfel is leaving The pool is narrowed to 16 candidates for phone interviews, and the district will ultimately interview six people before choosing two finalists. Weber said they expect to name the new principal at the May 16 committee meeting.