With administrative-level cuts, a proposed pool closure and a program audit, Green Bay School Board members are starting to narrow down the list of cost-cutting options as the district rumbles toward a fiscal cliff.
The Green Bay School District is facing an upcoming budget deficit of up to $8 million in 2026-27 and between $24 million and $32 million in 2027-28. The deficit two years out is higher because a longtime $16.5 million referendum ends.
The initial $8 million deficit has been cut by $3 million, Superintendent Vicki Bayer said March 9, leaving $5 million left to cut. She pointed out the state funding formula as the reason for the major budget cuts, mentioning the lawsuit Green Bay and other districts filed against the state Legislature.
“One of the public forum speakers said, ‘look the students in the eye and say they aren’t worth the investment,’” Bayer said. “I would encourage you to say that to our state legislators who aren’t adequately funding public education.”
In its meeting March 9, administrators presented the board with what they’ve done to cut costs so far, plus decisions the board will make before the next board meeting on March 23. At that point, board members will decide where the district should move to cut costs.
“We’ve cut everything we possibly can to the point where now there will be negative impact,” Bayer said.
The decisions brought to the table were largely based on community budget information sessions. In those meetings, community members said their focus was students, teachers and classrooms, as well as transparency and equity.
Parents and teachers also spoke at the meeting, pushing the district to preserve both current pools and protect East High School’s Fine Arts institute.
Bayer and other administrators have started implementing cuts at the district’s central office and reducing positions as people resign or retire, but there’s more that could come based on the board’s decisions.
Board members are expected to rank what they believe the district could cut at their next meeting, March 23. Here’s where proposed cuts stand now.
Central office position cuts: In progress
In budget information sessions, multiple community members suggested the district audit its administrative and central office teams for overlapping responsibilities.
Green Bay said it’s cutting six administrative, school leadership or clerical positions by attrition, plus reducing administrative hours when possible. There’ll also be additional teaching and staff attrition position cuts, but that number won’t be determined until summer, the district said.
It’s also reducing central office budgets by 10%, which it estimates will save about $500,000; it’s the third year in a row of 10% reductions.
Edison pool closure: In progress (yet to be approved)
Closing the Southwest High School pool is off the table due to community concern. But the pool at Edison Middle School will close and be turned into a new gym pending board approval March 23, according to a board memo.
The Edison pool “serves a small fraction of students for limited instructional impact,” and having additional gym space would be more effective for the district, the memo says. The most common user is the Green Bay Swim Club, a private swim club that rents space; including GBSC, the pool was only used 12% of the time in 2025. Without them, it wasn’t used even 3% of its available hours.
Closing a pool is estimated to save $64,400 annually, including utilities, chemicals and all maintenance costs, according to information released by the district. By decommissioning the Edison pool, Green Bay would avoid about $635,000 in mechanical replacements and additional equipment.
Employee benefit changes: In progress (yet to be approved)
There was strong community opposition to reducing employee benefits, steps and not offering cost of living wage increases. Still, freezing steps and changing benefits is still on the table, in part because of how much they save.
Green Bay is also looking at its benefits options, particularly in the wake of expiring ACA subsidies. Employees who keep their same plan could see their premiums increase by $24 per month to $72 per month and the district could implement a spousal surcharge, among other changes.
Specialty programs: International Baccalaureate, Fine Arts, AVID: In progress
Green Bay is moving forward on an audit of its International Baccalaureate program, its Fine Arts Institute and its Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program.
An external firm is looking at each program for a return on district investment, and the district expects that report by the beginning of May. Cutting programs could save the district between $500,000 and $1.5 million and would go into effect in its 2027-28 budget.
Custodial services: In progress
Green Bay administrators are reducing the number of custodians through attrition, where resigning or retiring custodians are not replaced. This may mean custodial services are reduced in the end, depending on how many positions are reduced; for example, classrooms could be cleaned every other night rather than every night, or classrooms could be cleaned less thoroughly.
Reimbursement policy changes: In progress
Green Bay is no longer covering credit card fees, which it estimates will save about $18,000 annually.
Separately from its budget cutting process, the district is planning to update its reimbursement policy to set guardrails on what and for how much the district will reimburse employees. It adds that alcohol, parking violations, personal entertainment associated with a work event or family costs aren’t reimbursable, and states the district can implement a schedule that would cap employee reimbursements. Right now, the policy has no limits on reimbursement use or amount.
Technology: In progress
The district is reviewing its 1:1 practice, where each student has their own device, after community support, it said. That may include delaying normal tech replacements or looking for lower-cost options.
Green Bay has already reduced software – for example, teachers can no longer monitor student laptops electronically, they said – and more software cuts are still on the table.
John Dewey, Rosa Minoka-Hill: Proposed
Closing either the John Dewey Academy of Learning building, Rosa Minoka-Hill School building or both is still a possibility; the schools would be relocated and share space with another building. Chief operations officer Cale Pulczinski estimated closing each building would save $190,000 to $250,000 in annual costs, plus the one-time cost of selling the building. He estimated Minoka-Hill is valued at about $950,000 and John Dewey at about $2.2 million.
Board meeting livestreams, postings: Proposed
Changes to board meetings are still on the table. Green Bay could still cut board meeting livestreams to save $19,150 in closed captioning fees (legally, YouTube closed captions don’t meet ADA requirements) and could eliminate board meeting notices in the paper, as it posts notices physically and on its website.
Class sizes: No change
The district doesn’t plan to increase class sizes unless a planned November referendum fails, based on community feedback, Bayer said.
New sources of revenue: Potential
Green Bay is looking to increase its revenue via programs like higher education partnerships and selling facility naming rights, a method that’s been used in the past. Still, these methods aren’t likely to bring in significant revenue.
(This story has been updated.)
Contact Green Bay education reporter Nadia Scharf at nscharf@usatodayco.com or on X at @nadiaascharf.
This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: What’s on, off table for Green Bay School District budget shortfall
Reporting by Nadia Scharf, Green Bay Press-Gazette / Green Bay Press-Gazette
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