Oregon, WI: School board takes money from gen ed for SPED

June 10, 2025, Oregon Observer, Kiel, WI: Board looks back at school year, ahead to new budget

The Oregon Board of Education met on Monday, June 9 to discuss current and relevant topics that are upcoming in the month of June and beyond into summer. With the school year wrapping up on Friday, June 6, the board looked back on yet another school year, starting with goodbyes to staff members who are retiring.

After 19 years of service business education teacher, Sara Kissling is retiring, after 35 years of service Spanish teacher, Barbara Werner is retiring, and after 21 years of service, student services administrative assistant at RCI, Cynthia Berry is retiring.

2024-2025 Budget Adjustments

In the 2024-2025 Budget Adjustment, Business Manager, Andrew Weiland brought to attention the High Cost Needs Program titled, High Cost Special Education Aid (HCSE). This program benefits nearly 50% of the state due to the severity of student needs. The program can increase the funding depending on the particular student's situation if needed.

Overall, the board is trying to gather more funding for special education since most special education departments across the state are underfunded. School board member Caleb Bush voiced his concern with the growing issue of the lack of state support regarding special education. The school board has taken money from other parts of its budget and has put more money into the special education program.

“We’ve had the benefit of an extremely supportive community and other districts have not been in that position, and I think that’s where it really becomes tough because they’re actually dealing with those uncertainties and either using fund bounds or starting to cut deep into the ability to provide education,” Weiland said.

2025-2026 Preliminary Budget

This year’s preliminary budget brought some updates to large capital projects across the district. Large capital projects are used on a year-to-year basis. The board still has $300,000 for the kindergarten renovation in Netherwood Knoll Elementary School. Weiland did mention that the bids came in a bit higher than expected for this summer, it will be reworked and forwarded to next school year.

Last November the Oregon Community received a $315,000 donation from the DNR (Department of Natural Resources) for a community splash pad at the Oregon Community Pool.

The community has now collected over $390,000 and is still occasionally receiving small donations. The board also discussed another $320,000 grant that could be added to the splash pad project. The grant will be decided later this month.

Open Enrollment

District HR director and in-house counsel Jina Jonen is looking to increase the open enrollment spaces for students in 4k and kindergarten.

“The helpful thing in 4k and kindergarten is we have more flexibility about where those students attend school. We try to be as efficient as possible to fill sections,” Jonen said. “So it’s really nice if we have openings and different classes that we can fill with open enrollment, which helps our budget.”

Jonen wanted the board to approve 17 additional spaces for 4k and 11 spaces in kindergarten throughout the district for families interested in open enrollment. She said she wants to ensure that the district is welcoming to new families when open enrollment opens up in July.

Superintendent’s Report

Following a successful end of the school year, which capped off the Oregon class of 2025 walking the stage at Sunday’s graduation in front of a packed gym at Oregon High School, Dr Leslie Bergstrom shared some information regarding the upcoming summer semester.

The summer semester will begin with session one starting July 7 and ending July 18.

Session two begins July 21 and ends August 1. Throughout the two sessions, Oregon summer school will feature 83 unique classes with some spots still available to register.

1,409 students signed up and 64 student interns were hired to help conduct the classes and mentor the kids.

“I want to make sure everybody knows that this is coming up,” Bergstrom said. “It's a vital part of what happens in the Oregon school district in the summer, and as you can tell, a significant number of students participate.”