Frequently Asked Questions

Wisconsin’s school funding system limits the amount of revenue school districts can receive each year from state aid and local property taxes. These revenue limits are tied primarily to state-approved adjustments and student enrollment.

For many years, state funding adjustments have not kept pace with inflation. As a result, the district’s revenue has grown much more slowly than its operating costs. Meanwhile, expenses such as curriculum and instructional materials, utilities, health insurance, transportation, and employee salaries continue to increase.

At the same time, declining enrollment driven by an ongoing decrease in birth rates has reduced the number of students attending the district’s schools. Increased competition from neighboring districts, private schools, charter schools, and other educational options has also contributed to enrollment challenges. Because school funding is closely tied to student enrollment, these trends have further limited the district’s revenue growth.

Unlike private businesses, schools cannot raise prices to offset rising costs. When expenses increase faster than available revenue, districts must reduce spending. Without additional funding, those reductions can affect educational programs, student services, staffing, and other investments that support student learning and success.

The John J. Hosmanek Educational Support Center (ESC) is the heart of the behind-the-scenes operations that keep KUSD schools running smoothly. While the building may appear large from the outside, a significant portion of its square footage is dedicated to operational functions, including the central kitchen, warehouse, and facilities areas that serve schools across Kenosha.

Inside, teams work together to support our schools through a range of services, including human resources, curriculum and instruction development, special education services, technology services, meal preparation and distribution, facilities and maintenance, communications and family engagement, financial services, and much more.

To give our community a closer look, we partnered with the Kenosha Police Department Drone Team to create this quick video tour that highlights the building’s main areas.

Join us for this brief tour to learn more about the various departments and services housed at the ESC that support our students, staff, and families every day.

Learn more about each department.

Additionally, the ESC will soon welcome the Kenosha County Job Center as our new neighbor, located in the strip mall currently under construction adjacent to the ESC.

No. The state mandates a minimum number of instructional minutes per year. The district maximizes efficiency with bus routes and scheduling while meeting these requirements. Reducing school days would not significantly reduce costs.

Philanthropic support exists, and we are grateful for these partnerships; however, they are not sustainable or anywhere near the level of funding we need for next year and beyond.

A user tax has not been considered, as it is outside the scope of our school board’s authority.

On Jan. 28, 2025, the Board approved the transfer of the former Hillcrest building, Jefferson, Kenosha eSchool, KTEC West, McKinley and Washington Middle School from KUSD to the City of Kenosha for redevelopment. The City is overseeing and financing the redevelopment process.

Any profits from the redevelopment and sale of the former Hillcrest building, Kenosha eSchool, KTEC West, McKinley and Washington Middle School—beyond redevelopment costs—will be shared equally between KUSD and the City.

The City will retain any profits from the redevelopment of the Jefferson site in exchange for KUSD’s acquisition of the former KTEC East property.

To clarify, the window replacement at the former Washington Middle School on Sheridan Road was approved by a previous administration using ESSER funds to improve indoor air quality and support student and staff safety. At that time, the building’s closure was not being considered.

The decision to relocate the school came later through the district’s rightsizing process. The review found significant ADA accessibility, facility condition, and maintenance concerns, including more than $40 million in needed repairs. As a result, the district determined that relocating the school to the newer former EBSOLA building was the most responsible long-term solution.

These were separate decisions made at different times based on different circumstances.

This chart shows each school’s utilization rate based on the September 2025 student count, along with projected utilization rates for the 2026–27 school year.

When reviewing these figures, it is important to note that utilization rates are based on the number of instructional spaces available in each building. Some adjustments may still occur before the start of the 2026–27 school year. For example:

  • Converting certain classrooms to non-instructional spaces (such as secure entrance projects) may affect available capacity.
  • Hillcrest recently moved into a larger facility; however, not all rooms in the new space are designated for instructional use and are therefore not included in capacity calculations.
  • Capacity calculations include a planning buffer of 8% at elementary schools and 5% at middle and high schools to accommodate enrollment fluctuations and operational needs.

The district’s overall planning target is 80%. Below are approximate projections for the 2026-27 school year:

  • Boundary Elementary Schools: 80% utilization
  • Boundary Middle Schools: 77% utilization
  • Boundary High Schools: 71% utilization
  • Choice Schools: 80% utilization

These targets help ensure that schools have sufficient space to support student learning while maintaining flexibility for future enrollment changes.