June 24, 2026 8:30p
(WGTD)---Only about a-third of the Kenosha Unified employees who are paid out of a budget line covering the district's central office actually work in the building. Most of the workers spend most of their hours working in the schools in various capacities, according to the district's chief financial officer.
Tarik Hamdan presented the exhaustive break-down during a discussion on whether to schedule a funding referendum for this fall. The board ultimately decided to wait until April.
Perceived overstaffing at the Educational Support Center on 52nd St. is often cited in the argument against asking voters for permission to exceed state-mandated levy limits. District officials say a cursory look at ESC staffing and budget numbers is misleading.
At Tuesday's meeting, board member Bob Tierney said Hamdan needs to "prove" that all of the positions at the ESC are needed in a manner that is comprehensible to a voter with a 6th grade reading ability. "This is the first time I ever even looked at position by position and that's very confusing," Tierney said. "The average reading level in Kenosha is 6th grade. Bring it down simple, man," Tierney exhorted. "This is not simple."
"I'll try but it's not simple," Hamdan replied.
Board member Sabrina Landry said she's positive cuts can be made--she's just not sure where. She wants the district to hire someone to undertake some type of audit that's above and beyond what the district is required by state statute to perform on an annual basis. "Broke down line by line to see where there's extra fat and where we can cut," Landry said. "It might not be a lot but it's going to be something. There's space here to cut. We just need to find it."
The Board is expected to cover the upcoming school year's projected budget shortfall with reserves and savings generated by not immediately filling positions that become vacant.
After that, it's anyone's guess.
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