The Plum City School Board spent much of its Monday night meeting looking ahead — at the future of its football program, rising health insurance costs and long-term fiscal planning — while also approving routine business ranging from summer school dates to school forest hunting guidelines.

The Feb. 16 meeting included a presentation from Superintendent Chris Kamrath on the possibility that the Elmwood-Plum City (EPC) cooperative football team could transition from 11-player to eight-player football in the coming years, as enrollment trends point to continued challenges in maintaining depth.

Kamrath stressed that no immediate decision is required, but that the district has a window to begin planning.

“It’s not a secret that our football numbers have gone down a little bit over the last few years,” Kamrath said.

He presented participation numbers across grade levels, noting current involvement from first grade through high school. EPC’s combined high school enrollment stands at 168 students this year and is projected to decline to 147 next year before leveling off in the 140–150 range in subsequent years. With that outlook, Kamrath outlined three potential paths forward:

• Continue with 11-player football as is.
• Transition to eight-player football.
• Add a third school to the cooperative to bolster roster depth.

Under Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association guidelines, districts must declare by Oct. 1 if they intend to switch formats for the 2028 season. Kamrath said the districts could apply to move to eight-player football and later withdraw if circumstances change.

Eight-player football reduces the number of players on the field from 11 to eight, eliminating certain line positions and often allowing smaller schools to remain competitive with limited rosters.

“When you’re smaller, you’re losing a little bit of depth,” Kamrath said, noting that eight-player football can help level the competitive field for schools with smaller enrollments.

Kamrath emphasized that discussions are ongoing between Plum City and Elmwood administrators, and that both school boards would need to move forward together. Surveys of parents and players are also being developed.

“There’s no hidden agenda,” he said. “We just want to try to see what’s best for us as we kind of know our enrollment moving forward.”

The board will revisit the topic in coming months.

Addressing tax concerns

Kamrath also responded to public comments from the January meeting, when seven residents spoke, six of them regarding an increase in school taxes.

He referenced an article by Wisconsin Association of School Boards President Dan Rossmiller outlining statewide factors driving property tax increases, including stagnant state general aid, revenue limits that have not kept pace with inflation, increased reliance on operating referendums and declining state revenue support for education. Wisconsin once dedicated 43.1% of its state budget to education in 2003. That figure has dropped to 36.6%, according to the article Kamrath cited.

Private school voucher programs and recent municipal reassessments that increased property values were also noted as contributors to rising tax bills. Kamrath said district leadership has worked to be fiscally responsible, reducing full-time equivalent positions through attrition when possible and making operational adjustments to stretch dollars further.

“I am proud of that work we’ve done,” he said, adding that the district’s goal is to hold any future referendum in 2028 at the same level or potentially lower than the current one.

Health insurance RFP approved

Finance Director Renee Peterson requested and received board approval to issue a request for proposals (RFP) for employee health insurance.

Peterson said the district is exploring ways to reduce premium increases and better control long-term costs. Among the options being examined are adjustments to copays for non-emergency emergency room visits, wellness program models and potential “in lieu of” payments for employees who choose to enroll in a spouse’s insurance plan.

“When you only have like 52 employees that are eligible for insurance, every person’s opinion matters,” Peterson said, noting she has surveyed staff about possible changes.

Board members unanimously approved moving forward with the RFP process.

Summer school and course guide approved

The board approved summer school dates, with classes scheduled for three weeks this year, running Monday through Thursday and concluding before the Fourth of July. Transportation and meals will continue to be provided. Administrators are also considering expanding to a four-week model in future years, depending on staffing availability.

In addition, the board approved the 2026-27 high school course guide and associated fees. Kamrath said several new electives are being added, including additional music offerings, and that some course fees were adjusted to better reflect actual material costs.

School forest hunting guidelines adopted

Board members also approved updated school forest hunting procedures. Under the guidelines, students may apply for two-week bow hunting seasons at the school forest, with names drawn for designated time slots between September and January. Participants must use their own equipment and will be required to sign waivers. The district will continue refining procedures regarding early harvests and possible reassignment of unused time slots.

Enrollment update

Peterson reported that from the fall student count to the January count date, the district’s enrollment declined by two students, moving from 221 to 219.