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*****************ECRWSS**** PRSRT STD U.S.POSTAGE The Local PAID KohlerKohler Postal Customer KOHLER, WI 53044 PERMIT NO. 6 VillagerVillager219 Church St., Kohler, WI 53044 FREE Published Monthly In Kohler, WI 53044 APRIL, 2011 Volume 6, Number 9 Kohler School Board Kohler Schools approves one-year to hold listening teacher contract extension session on budget On March 17, 2011, the Kohler School Board approved a Memo- shortfall randum of Understanding with On March 17, 2011, the Kohler = Adding additional layoffs or po- teachers to extend the current con- School Board approved a one-year sition reductions in the future tract for a period of one year. The contract extension with its teachers = Considering a wage freeze for contract extension includes signif- for the 2011-12 school year. administrator and other posi- icant reductions in pay and bene- Teachers agreed to a salary freeze, tions consistent with teacher fits for teachers as well as work a 15 percent contribution to health concessions rule changes providing the Board care premiums and to one-half of The community will have an with greater flexibility. the total required contribution to opportunity to provide input and Under the Governor’s proposed the Wisconsin Retirement System. share their thoughts about the budget and expenditure projections This amounts to a savings of budget during three superintendent based on the current school year, roughly $462,000. Additional con- listening sessions: Thursday, Kohler Schools will have an esti- cessions pertain to work rule March 31 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 mated $600,000 to $650,000 School Board approves Memorandum of Understanding changes. p.m. in the district conference budget shortfall in the 2011-2012 room; Saturday, April 2 from 9:00 contribute 15 percent towards teacher with 30-day notice pro- The $462,000 in savings re- school year. Kohler teachers have a.m. -10:30 a.m. in Woodlake Mar- the premium. vides greater flexibility in man- duces the projected budget agreed to historic reductions, help- ket; and Thursday, April 7 from = Employees who do not partici- aging district finances $600,000-$650,000 shortfall. ing to significantly close this gap. 7:00 p.m. -8:30 p.m. in the district pate in the health insurance plan However, there is still a budget These reductions exceed those that The Board and the Administra- conference room. and receive a contribution to a gap. The budget shortfall includes would be realized under the tion believe this contract extension The district budget is built on tax sheltered annuity instead of a structural deficit being carried Budget Repair Bill. The reductions is an opportunity for Kohler the per-pupil amount the state al- health care will see the maxi- forward and a 5.5 percent cut in the also exceed those offered in sur- Schools to provide needed finan- lows the district to raise through mum contribution reduced from revenue limit as proposed in Gov- rounding districts with similar cial savings to the district and pro- local property taxes or state aid, $7,900 to $4,000. ernor Walker’s state budget. agreements. vide stability and focus for and other voter approved spending. = Employees will be responsible In the coming months, the Kohler Schools shaped a one- teachers in these uncertain times. The revenue limit is the amount for the employee portion of the Kohler School Board will cau- year contract extension with teach- The extension provides the district raised through property taxes or Wisconsin Retirement System tiously decide what to reduce, ers to provide time to thoughtfully with approximately $112,000 in state aid as defined by the state. contribution. change, or eliminate in the budget move into the landscape required savings over and above what The Kohler School Board uses the = The top tier of the longevity pay in order to close the budget short- by the Budget Repair Bill. The would likely be achieved through full amount of the allowed revenue chart is eliminated. fall. The following ideas are under Board is working to ensure teach- the Budget Repair Bill. The con- limit to fund Kohler Schools at the = Teachers in middle and high consideration: ers remain focused on educating tract extension means teachers’ maximum level. At the risk of un- school will move from two = Reducing some electives at the children. This extension provides take home pay will be reduced be- dermining a quality education for preparation periods per day to high school level that focus and also provides the tween 8% - 11%. According to dis- the students, which in time could one period and either teach an = Offering some high school elec- time for the Board to create the trict analysis, the extension reduce property values, the School additional section or be as- tives on an every other year new relationships and working provides the potential for $462,000 Board has the power to reduce signed a professional or super- cycle rules needed in July 2012. in savings in the coming school taxes by not funding at the full rev- visory responsibility. = Expanding the middle school = The extension includes the fol- year. Under the Budget Repair enue limit. = Teachers who retire at the end model to include grades 6 lowing: Bill, those savings would likely be The challenge each school of the 2011-2012 school year through 8 = A salary freeze at the current $349,000. board faces is maximizing revenue, will receive a benefit that is half = rate (the right to bargain wages, The Kohler Board would like to Combining 6th grade band with balancing the budget, and honoring of the current benefit (tax shel- the 7th and 8th grade band as stated in the Budget Repair extend deep appreciation to our the contribution property owners tered annuity from $10,000 to = Bill, is waived for one year). teachers and staff working together Reducing or eliminating 6th make through taxes. When overall $5,000 or health care from grade summer band lessons = All salary lane and step in- to shape a framework in the best property value in a community de- $20,000 to $10,000). = creases are frozen. interest of Kohler students. Driving full enrollment capacity creases, each property owner pays = A provision that allows the = Employees who participate in at each grade level more to the school district for each Board to reduce or layoff a = the health insurance plan will Limiting expenditures on stu- $1000 of property value. Think of dent workbooks in early ele- Kohler property value as a pie, mentary grades when the pie shrinks, each portion Plans in the making for Village = Reducing secretarial and/or of the pie must contribute more to other support positions raise the same amount of money to = Combining facility/operations fund the school district. of Kohler Centennial management with other admin- Because the Kohler School Dis- On November 13, 2012, the Peter Fetterer, and Cindy Howley. ning of this major event, please istrative positions tric is challenged by the need to Village of Kohler will celebrate its Since the beginning of the New contact the Village Clerk/Trea- = Increasing athletic and other balance its budget, to maximize Centennial. In preparation for this Year, the Committee has been surer’s Office at 920-459-3873 extra curricular fees revenue, and to minimize property one hundred year celebration, the meeting on a bi-weekly basis to or email [email protected]. = Charging a fee for athletic trans- tax impact, community input is Village Board has established a plan for the 2012 Centennial. Prior The next Centennial Committee portation needed. Please attend one of the Centennial Committee. The mem- to this, Steve Reinbacher had meeting is scheduled for Wednes- = Reducing or eliminating funding listening sessions to recommend to bers are the Village Board Presi- begun the initial work with the day, April 6, 4:00 p.m., at the for performing arts and funding the Board ways to balance the dent along with Sheryl Lindstrom, Centennial Committee. If anyone Kohler Village Hall and is open to it on ticket sales budget and, at the same time, main- Thomas Leonhardt, Amy Biznek, would like to assist with the plan- the public. = Increasing meal prices tain a high quality school district. 2 APRIL, 2011 = KOHLER VILLAGER KOHLERVILLAGER.COM From the Village Board President . The past sev- youth of today. My personal best Board President.” A personal void eral weeks wishes are extended to Mr. Marty is still felt with the untimely death have created Lexmond, School Board President of Steve Reinbacher. Sincere con- much turmoil Dr. Jane Bishop, and the other four dolences continue to be with Ann for WI, both School Board members, and the Reinbacher and her family. at the state school staff as they pull together to During these eight years, I have and local lev- offer the best possible educational had the privilege of serving on the els. As Gov- programs for the youth of our com- Board in several different capaci- ernor Scott munity. ties. My primary role for several Get Fit in Walker’s budget bill winds itself The Kohler Civic Club was or- years was Chairperson of the Prop- through the courts and the legisla- ganized one year ago and meets at erty Committee. In looking back, Good Company tive process, concerns still remain noon on the first and third Thurs- several projects were completed Sweet Potato’s welcomes all Village residents to at the local level. In the end, day of each month. Meetings rotate during that time. Among those another year of the Kohler walking group. Take though, it should be realized that between Blackwolf Run Restau- were the new roof on Kohler Me- advantage of this opportunity to exercise amongst communities will have to respond rant and Pine Hills Country Club.