ELLSWORTH — The 2026-27 preliminary budget for the Ellsworth Community School District was presented at the Aug. 17 board meeting, which includes a 5.32% decrease to revenues (from $23,866,358 to $22,661,755) and a 7.3% decrease to expenditures (from $24,294,191 to $22,640,488). The budget numbers are not finalized until enrollment, aid and other factors are determined in October.

“There was a mandate, because of the referendum that didn’t pass, for us to cut a significant amount of expenses which was done and that is reflected in here,” Treasurer Michael Petersen said. “We are also seeing the effects of the referendum and lower enrollment, so that is also part of this.”

Notable decreases in revenues include a decrease from $12.1 million to $11.8 million in equalization aid and a roughly $50,000 decrease to per pupil aid. Expenditure cuts include a decrease in salaries from $10.82 million to $10.29 million and a decrease in benefits from $5.7 million to $5.14 million. The supplies budget also saw a $200,000 decrease.

“The community gave us direction by their votes, and this is the administration responding and giving us a budget that is optimized for what we have, keeping in mind that we’ve already made and continue to plan reductions of things that we thought were important,” Petersen said.

Petersen also presented the year-end financial estimates. While the numbers are not quite final, the district is projecting to finish with a $510,094 revenue surplus from the budgeted $23,866,359 for 2025-26. The district is also projecting to finish $233,428 below budgeted expenditures.

New courses

Three new high school courses were approved: sculpture class, sports officiating and pathways to leadership. The sports officiating course prepares students to become certified WIAA officials in multiple sports.

Personnel

The board approved the following personnel changes:

Hires: Corrina Abram, elementary food service staff; Jacob Ball, elementary school second grade teacher; Lynne Hamilton, elementary school long-term substitute teacher; Kristin Hoppe, elementary school teaching assistant/PKC staff; Alyssa Pechacek, elementary speech language assistant.

Resignations: Kate Garbow, high school girls assistant golf coach; Jason Haugley, high school special education teacher; Shelby Lawler, high school girls assistant golf coach; Alexis Sorli, elementary second grade teacher.

Extra/Co-Curriculars: Cade Hanson, high school volunteer assistant cross country coach; Faith Iwerks, high school assistant girls basketball coach; Olivia Lynner, high school assistant girls basketball coach; Madison Olson, adaptive floor hockey coach; Madeline Poulos, girls JV golf coach.

Transfers: Ivan Mendez from high school boys basketball varsity assistant to JV head coach.