Frequently Asked Questions

In a time that inflation is hitting levels not seen in 40 years, public schools are in dire need of additional state funding. In Wisconsin, public school districts have not had a per pupil adjustment that has kept pace with the rate of inflation for 14 years, according to the Legislative Fiscal Bureau. From 2002 to 2020, the state of Wisconsin dropped from 11th to 25th in funding public education compared to the nation. In the 2021-23 Biennial Budget school districts were told to rely on one-time federal COVID relief funds to make ends meet, further contributing to the fiscal cliff. Like many districts, SDMF is facing a structural deficit that we are working to balance by reducing costs where possible in the 2022-2023 school year and into the future due to costs continuing to rise across the board, including transportation, heating, food, and materials and supplies, contracted services, employee benefits, and growing pressure on wages. At the same time, revenue in the state funding formula is not keeping up with inflation, putting districts in extremely tight budget positions.

If SDMF is not able to secure adequate state funding, starting in the 2023-2024 school year, we may not have the budget available to afford current levels of staffing and programming, negatively impacting the high-quality instruction and opportunities we offer our students. Additionally, we will lack the flexibility to make competitive salary offers to attract and retain the best educators. We will have to dip further into the general education fund to cover expenses related to covering the gap in funding for special education services. Without proper funding, SDMF will face unprecedented challenges in providing our students with the education that our children deserve and our school community demands.

SDMF has a proven track record of financial responsibility and works to continually create operational efficiencies. The district is lean and continues to seek opportunities to reduce costs while prioritizing student needs. Due to the funding formula and flat resident membership, MFSD has had fixed revenue in recent years and is projected to have fixed revenue in future years while expenses continue to climb due to inflation. The District prioritizes budget items based on needs over wants in order to maintain efficiencies and a balanced budget.

There are many ways in which the district seeks cost reductions to the greatest extent possible. Staffing-wise, the district’s staffing model appropriately aligns staff with student enrollment. This ensures we function within our board-approved optimal class size ranges. The district’s move to a self-funded model for health insurance over a decade ago has proven time and time again to provide lower increases than the regional trend, resulting in more money back into classrooms. Outside of the classroom, the district has negotiated and locked in utility costs directly with a provider, resulting in energy cost reductions and avoidance of over $9.6 million since 2001. In addition, the district has refinanced debt to create over $4 million in direct taxpayer savings since 2006. At a more granular level, divisions, departments, and schools review their budgets annually and identify needs over wants.

In short, the district is lean and continues to seek means to control costs. However, state funding that does not keep up with inflation will begin to cause significant impact in programming that will be felt by our staff and students.

In the Menomonee Falls School District communities, which include Menomonee Falls and small portions of Lannon, Butler, and Milwaukee, we are fortunate to have an active and engaged local business community, who have supported our public school students through an array of partnerships and mentorships, exposing students to various fields and areas of expertise. In SDMF, we believe it is the responsibility of the entire community to ensure our children have what they need to become successful members of society. Our students are our future workforce and each child’s journey toward their post-secondary educational and career aspirations requires unique support.

Without a predictable and sustainable funding system, the opportunities we are able to provide to our students will become limited. The broad range of educational activities we currently offer our students cannot be maintained without adequate financial support from the state. For students who rely on exposure to career options and experiences within the school environment, the loss of these opportunities would have a detrimental impact on their growth and ultimately, could limit their future contributions to our community.

Ideally, the funding pays for the salaries of personnel, equipment, materials, and other contracted educational services that, under federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) legislation, school districts are legally mandated to provide for the purpose of ensuring a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) for every student who qualifies for an IEP. At a 30% special education reimbursement rate in Wisconsin, the current reality means that districts are required to cover the vast majority of costs associated with educating students with special needs. This means districts need to reduce the amount of money available for regular eduction students to cover the additional costs of our special education student population. Each year, that amount from the general operating budget that pays for special education services in the Menomonee Falls School District is approximately $5 million.

An increased special education reimbursement rate would benefit all children.

In the legislative maps website linked here, enter your address in the search bar on the upper right corner of the page to see who your local representatives are.

Generally, it is beneficial to contact the representatives from the district in which you reside.

Consider writing to your local representatives utilizing some or all of the advocacy template linked here.

You can email or call your local representatives and state legislators at the contact information provided. The State has also created a website linked here that allows you to submit a “fiscal note” directly through the portal.

You have the power to make your voice heard by contacting your representatives and advocating for the issues that directly impact the children, workforce, and future of our school community.