SUN PRAIRIE RISING

School District says the notices are required by state law and not final, but declining enrollment and future staffing needs remain key concerns.

By Andy Schoenherr

Editor, Sun Prairie Rising

In late March, just before spring break, principals at three Sun Prairie elementary schools met with staff to deliver unsettling news: nine educators would receive preliminary non-renewal notices for the 2026–27 school year, potentially eliminating their positions.

Of those affected, four positions are at Creekside Elementary, four at CH Bird, and one at Westside. The Sun Prairie Education Association (SPEA) declined to comment for this story but confirmed that specific teachers have not yet been identified.

Any potential reduction in staffing raises concerns about class sizes, student-to-teacher ratios, and the broader impact on both affected employees and their colleagues. In 2024, Sun Prairie taxpayers approved a $25 million referendum specifically to support operating and staffing costs, so the possibility of personnel cuts came as a surprise to many.

The situation highlights a growing challenge for the district: how to balance staffing, enrollment trends, and taxpayer expectations.

State requirements drive early notices

Perry Hibner, the district’s interim director of communications and engagement, said the notices are driven primarily by legal requirements—not budget cuts.

Wisconsin Statute 118.24 requires school districts to notify staff at least five months before a contract is not renewed. With the 2026–27 school year beginning Sept. 1, preliminary notices must be issued by early April, with final decisions typically made in May. Without issuing these notices, the district would be unable to make staffing adjustments for the upcoming year.

Hibner emphasized that the notices are precautionary and that no final decisions about positions or assignments have been made.

“This is much more about reallocation than reduction,” Hibner said. “It’s something we go through every year as part of our staffing realignment based on enrollment by grade. We have amazing staff across all 15 of our buildings, and our goal is to retain them. But we also must make adjustments based on where staffing is most needed.”

School board has not yet reviewed decisions

School Board President Diana McFarland confirmed that the board has not yet reviewed any proposed non-renewals but expects to do so in early April. Those discussions typically occur in closed session due to the sensitive nature of personnel matters.

“We never want anyone to leave our district,” McFarland said, “But we also have some staff turnover every year, and we’re really not sure what the enrollment numbers will look like in the fall.”

Hibner added that the district’s preference is to manage reductions through attrition—such as retirements, or voluntary departures and relocations. However, if there are not enough internal openings to reassign staff, layoffs may become necessary.

Concerns raised about shifting projections

Kaleena Stephan is running for Sun Prairie School Board and questioned the administration’s apparent “about face” on staffing. 

She noted that at the Feb. 23 board meeting, district leaders projected elementary enrollment growth and suggested principals might need to “thoughtfully add staff.” More recently, she said, projections indicate a decline of roughly 120 K–5 students for the 2026–27 school year. 

 “The cuts proposed are at Title 1 schools – the same buildings we consistently hear parent and educator concerns from regarding staffing and classroom environment,” Stephan said.  “I struggle to see how increasing class size or increasing ratios would be a beneficial outcome for these buildings.”

Enrollment trends add uncertainty

Sun Prairie is in uncharted territory with regards to declining enrollment.  The district has been growing over the past decade, gaining almost 300 students since 2015.  But enrollment is now projected to decline by more than 600 students — about 7.3% — by 2035, based on projections from University of Wisconsin’s Applied Population Lab.

Experts attribute the shift to several factors. Birth rates have declined nationwide since 2007 and remained low through and after the pandemic. Children born in 2020 and 2021—years marked by uncertainty and isolation—are only now reaching school age.

Economic factors, like increased housing and childcare costs have also delayed family formation, making it more financially challenging for many households to have children.

At the same time, private school enrollment has increased nationally, and homeschooling— which surged during the pandemic—remains more common than before 2020.  Current federal policies have also resulted in lower levels of immigration, reducing its impact on enrollment growth. 

While national trends point toward decline, Sun Prairie also relies on projections from MDRoffers, a Waunakee-based consulting firm that forecasts school populations based on housing development and local growth. Those projections suggest continued enrollment increases, so it’s a challenge to determine which model is likely to be more accurate. 

Focus on retention and classroom environment

Stephan understands the uncertainty that comes with forecasting enrollment, but wants the district to focus on where it can improve. 

“Within direct district control is addressing the reasons that many families are choosing to open enroll out of the district – very often due to classroom environment particularly at the elementary level.” Stephan said. “Cutting elementary educators in this moment feels opposed to both the board’s directive and the community’s intentions in supporting the referendum.”

School board member Isaac Sung, who is running for reelection, said the news also caught him off guard and praised the role of the teachers’ union.  “The administration did not directly communicate about these potential non-renewals to us until after the Sun Prairie teacher’s union emailed about their concerns,” Sung said.  “I am grateful for the union’s involvement in advocating for teachers, because teachers are the most important factor in our students’ learning.” Sung stressed that his comments reflect his own individual views and do not speak for school district or the board as a whole. 

Looking ahead, he said the district should carefully examine other areas of the budget before reducing teaching staff.

“We should do a thorough analysis of other areas in the budget that could be reduced before we consider staffing changes that will increase class sizes,” Sung said.

Budget implications ahead

Enrollment trends will play a key role in shaping the district’s tax levy and budget for 2026–27 and beyond. If student numbers decline, demand for teachers, support staff, transportation, and other services may also decrease.

District leaders and board members will need to decide whether to reduce the tax burden on residents or reallocate funds to address inflationary pressures and pay remaining staff.

Those decisions will fall to the school board and administration following the April 7 election.

Hibner emphasized the district’s commitment to communication prior to any final staffing decisions.  “We expect SPASD enrollment to stay relatively flat for the 2026-27 school year,” he said. “But we won’t know exactly where those numbers fall until open enrollment closes and we get closer to the start of the school year. We monitor enrollment daily and provide regular updates to the Board of Education. And we will make sure our staff and families know about any changes we make.”