Introduction
Our District
Vision & Mission
Leadership
Executive Summary
Academic Points of Pride
School Perceptions Survey
Finance
Referendum Updates
Finance-at-a-Glance
RevenueTrends
Enrollment & Membership
2025-26 Budget Proposal
Fiscal Points of Emphasis
FundAccounting
Organization of Funds
Information
Organizational Structure
Schools
Community
Resources
The Howard-Suamico School District is located on the northwest side of the Green Bay Metropolitan area in Brown County, Wisconsin. One of the fastest growing areas in the state, Brown County, population 274,897 is a predominate manufacturing area in Wisconsin.
The District was formed in 1961 and encompasses 53 square miles. We serve the Village of Howard, the Village of Suamico, and one parcel in theTown of Pittsfield. We educate 5,630 students across eight schools and multiple community-based four-year-old kindergarten (4K) sites.
The District is a fiscally independent common school district and is governed by a seven-member elected school board. The Board has the legal authority and obligation to set budgets, certify tax levies, issue debt, and monitor the operations of the District through delegation of responsibility to the superintendent of schools. Through clear, proactive delegation of expectations and authority, the Board’s governing model fills the fiduciary role of the Board as well as empowers the flexibility and creativity of the Superintendent and his team.
Vision:
“Creating an authentic, innovative, connected, and inspired experience for an ever-changing world.”
Mission:
“We will work with families and community to ensure that our students have the knowledge and skills to succeed in a changing world.”
The Howard-Suamico School District does not discriminate in its admissions, programs, activities, services, or employment on the basis of sex, age, race, color, national origin, ancestry, cree, pregnancy, marital or parental status, sexual orientation, disability (physical, mental, emotional or learning), or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal or state law.
Greg Klimek, President; Scott Jandrin, Vice President; ChristinaAmtmann, Clerk;Allen McGuire,Treasurer; Vanessa Moran, Director; Rachelle Paulsen, Director;Amy Rubright, Director; Heidi Wustrack, Student Rep; Dhruv Bidari, Student Rep
Students will demonstrate continuous improvement toward their full potential in the following areas:
E-1: CoreAcademics
E-2: Student Engagement
E-3: Graduate Profile
DistrictAdministration
Mark Smith, Superintendent; Chad Buboltz,Assistant Superintendent of Leadership & Learning; Jennifer Garceau,Assistant Superintendent of Student Services; Josh Patchak, Executive Director of Operations; Josh Swanson, Executive Director of Finance; Kimberly Uelmen, Executive Director of Communications; Elisia Lewis, Executive Director of Human Resources; Nicole Smith, Executive Director of the Howard-Suamico Education Foundation
Welcome to the Howard-Suamico School District!
We are proud to serve nearly 5,600 students across eight schools and community-based 4K sites, nestled within the villages of Howard and Suamico and just minutes from iconic Lambeau Field. Our vision is clear - we strive to create authentic, innovative, connected, and inspired experiences. Our Community, Our Commitment -At the heart of our district is a passionate, award-winning team of educators and staff who work tirelessly to ensure every child receives an outstanding educational experience.Though we operate with fewer resources than many Wisconsin districts, our performance, recognition, and impact consistently rise to the top.
From National Blue Ribbon honors at Howard, Suamico, and Bay View to national recognition in Newsweek for Bay Port’s accomplishments, we prove that excellence isn’t solely about funding. Rather, it’s about dedication, innovation, and heart. We are proud to be a charter member of the League of Innovative Schools, and our community itself is often celebrated on national platforms. Money Magazine named Howard one of the top 50 places to live in the U.S., and, in 2023, U.S. News & World Report named Green Bay the best city inAmerica.Together, our collective efforts are creating a place that shines.
More Than Just Numbers - While we are proud of our accolades, our true measure of success is found in our students.The HSSD Graduate Profile is our compass and it guides every student to be adaptable, collaborative, and critically-thinking citizens ready for the world. It reflects the best of what we want for our students: a lifelong commitment to growth, character, and community.
We are also fortunate to partner with local businesses, civic groups, and faith-based organizations that foster both intellect and compassion in our youth. FromThe GivingTree Food Pantry to countless student-led service projects, we are united in the belief that nurturing smart minds and kind hearts is what builds a brighter future.
our Future
Our revised strategic framework, calledAFramework for Our Future, outlines four priority areas:
● Educational Excellence: Delivering high-quality instruction and innovative programming that challenges, engages, and grows all students.
● Staff Experience: Fostering a workplace culture that promotes growth, engagement, and well-being.
● Student Engagement: Creating a culture where students are consistently engaged, involved, and supported in their personal and academic growth.
● Operational Excellence and Fiscal Responsibility: Ensuring the efficient, sustainable, and transparent use of district resources
These priority areas are guided by strategic financial decisions aligned with our Board’s vision and the long-term goals of our district. While outdated funding systems remain a challenge, we continue to innovate, advocate, and stay centered on what matters most…our students.
ACall toAction - We are asking you, our community, to join us in being champions for HSSD. Together, let’s continue investing in the potential of every child in our care.
Together, we will move forward with courage and collaboration. Because in HSSD, we know we are stronger together.
With Gratitude, Mark Smith, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Bay Port High School - Class of 2025
● 505 Graduates
● 96 students graduated with high honors or honors
● 80 students graduating with a grade point average of 4.0 or higher
● $650,000 in senior scholarships awarded
● 133 National Honor Society Members
● 5 students received Global Scholar Program Certificates
● Numerous musicians, artists, athletes, technology-minded and academically gifted students who competed at the state level
● Many students who volunteered their time, energy and resources throughout our community
● Bay Harbor student entrepreneurs were featured on WFRV before the NFLDraft inApril. Fourth graders designed food truck meals inspired by the NFLDraft, and they pitched their ideas in a SharkTank style competition.
● Multiple elementary school students took a trip to Ellis island during an annual immigration simulation. Students dressed in period clothing and visited stations mimicking the Ellis Island experience from the 1890s.
● The VFW Duck Creek Post 7534 donated 40 newAmerican flags for the classrooms at Suamico Elementary.
● Bay View student, Liam Hansen, was recognized for his significant personal achievement by the WI Council of Administrators for Special Services.
● The Bay Port Varsity FootballTeam took home the state championship, the first in its program history.
● The Bay Port Forensics team received Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals during the competition season.
AStaff Survey was conducted inApril and May of 2025, to help educational leaders gather, organize and use data to make strategic decisions.
School Perceptions Survey Results:
95% of staff agree that our parents and community support the Howard-Suamico School District. 98% of staff agree that HSSD is a good place to work.
98% agree our staff does a good job of educating our students.
HSSD has sustained the 30+ additional teaching positions added in recent years to reduce class sizes in core subject areas.These positions strengthen core academic success and support the integration of the Graduate Profile.
Thanks to community support through the 2018 and 2021 referendums, the District continues to invest in staff compensation.All returning employees will receive a 3% salary or wage increase this year.
For the sixth consecutive year, $1 million of general fund revenue is dedicated to facilities maintenance.This proactive investment enables the District to address capital needs before they become major challenges and reserves larger projects for future referendum planning.
The students of HSSD continue to benefit from strong community support following the 2021 Operational Referendum and 2021 Facilities Update Referendum.These measures significantly reshaped the District’s financial outlook.The successful $5 million operational referendum authorized the Board to exceed revenue limits for five years (2023–2028).
Importantly, leveraging this flexibility does not increase the overall tax impact.The property tax levy is projected to rise modestly from $39,240,535 to approximately $39,885,911.At the same time, the proposed 2025–2026 tax rate of $7.69 represents a meaningful decrease compared to prior years.
In 2025–2026, the District will also receive an additional $325 per member, raising HSSD’s per-pupil revenue limit to $11,632.07—still below the state average.The state’s low-revenue ceiling remains unchanged for districts like HSSD, meaning our per-member revenue limit is projected at $11,276.81. In addition, per-pupil categorical aid is projected to remain at $742 per student, as the 2025–2027 state budget did not provide an increase.
The District’s projected membership for 2025–2026 is 5,412 students. Sustaining long-term enrollment depends on key factors such as affordable community housing, new families seeking a higher quality of life, the transition of 4K students into kindergarten, and transfers from private and parochial schools.These trends highlight the importance of strong partnerships with village leaders and local businesses. The District’s allowable revenue limit is calculated using a three-year rolling average.The final figure will be updated following theThird Friday Pupil Count on September 19, 2025.
311
4K Students
● Le Petite Academy (3)
● The Shepherd’s Kids
● Step Ahead
● Cuddle Care
● Head Start
● Bay Harbor Special Education Classroom
● HSSD 4K Full Day Program
1,758
1,664
Intermediate / Middle School Students
1,897
Bay Port Elementary Students
Bay Harbor
Forest Glen
Howard
Meadowbrook
Suamico
Lineville
Bay View
High School Students
Beginning with the 2010-2011 school year, the US Department of Education required educational institutions to collect and report racial and ethnic data in accordance with modified standards and aggregation categories.
Ethnic Origin or Race
The enrollment of racial ethnic groups in the District is 82.9% white with all other ethnic groups comprising 17.0%. Socio-Economic
The percent of economically disadvantaged students decreased from 22.8% in 2024-25 to 21.1% in 2025-26.
*Projections Based on September 5, 2025 count
*Enrollment represents the number of students we serve. Membership represents the projected three year rolling average of resident students that serves as the basis for state funding and revenue limit calculation. Enrollment Membership
*Equalization aid is the revenue provided by the State to support education. Total July 1 estimated General Aid is $5.581 billion for 2025-26..
289 of the 421 districts (32%) are predicted to receive an increase in aid.
HSSD is projected to see an increase of $726,837 (1.61%) in aid for 2025-26.
*District property taxes include levies for general operations, debt service, capital expansion, and community services.
Diligent financial planning allows HSSD to propose lowering the tax levy rate of $7.99 to $7.69.
*Equalized value, or total property valuation, reflects the cumulative dollar value placed on land and buildings for purposes of determining state aid and administering property taxes.
Howard-Suamico School District is assuming 5.61% growth in total property valuation for 2025-26..
2025 Value of Median Assessed Home: $352,400
2025 Value of Median Assessed Home:
The primary purpose of the budget is to serve as the catalyst for linking the District’s strategic objectives to programs and services for students.The Howard-Suamico School District Budget is developed in compliance with the Board of Education Executive Limitation, EL-6-Budget/Financial Planning:
*Financial planning for any fiscal year or the remaining part of any fiscal year shall not deviate materially form the Board’s Ends policies, risk fiscal jeopardy to the district or fail to be derived from a multi-year plan.
2025-2026 Budget Timeline
October 15
October 27
November 28
Budget Report
September 15
Proposed Budget
Release of Certified GeneralAid September 29
Budget
Annual Meeting
Presentation andAdoption
Due to WI Dept of Public Instruction (DPI)
June 15
Final Budget
Approval
Standard & Poor’s affirmed the AArating for the Howard-Suamico School District in June of 2021.AArating reflects the well managed financial operations, stable local economy, very strong financial reserves, strong median income, and a moderate overall net debt burden.
At this time, we predict to serve approximately 498 open enrollment students in 2025-2026.
In the 2015-2016 year, Howard-Suamico District substantially decreased its liability for supplemental retirement benefits by implementing a defined benefit for current and future employees. In fall 2015, the District’s total projected liability was $58.9 million.
After the implementation of the updated supplemental benefit, the most recent draft actuarial study from Foster and Foster dated June 2025, continues to calculate Howard-Suamico School District’s total supplemental retirement benefit liability as approximately $712,931.
General Fund Fund 10
The General Fund is used to account for District financial activities for current operations, except those which are required to be accounted for in other separate funds.Approximately 78% of all District expenditures are conducted through the General Fund, excluding Funds 49, 73 and 21.
In 1993, WI Statute 121.90 placed a limit on the revenue a district is able to receive from state equalization aid and local tax levies.The limit is based on enrollment data, legislative action, and the District’s prior year revenue.
2021-2022 $22,276,897
2022-2023 $20,741,422
2023-2024 $22,695,768
2024-2025 $22,400,449
2025-2026 $23,150,374
Education Fund 27
The Special Education Fund is used to account for special education and related services funded wholly or partially with state or federal dollars. In addition, Fund 27 accounts for cooperative programs and interdistrict payments.
39 This fund accounts for the repayment of debt that was authorized by Board resolution beforeAugust 12, 1993, or approved by referendum. Repayment of principal and interest is made outside of the revenue cap.
The LongTerm Capital ImprovementTrust Fund is used to account for approved long-term capital improvement plans. Funds must remain in this account for a five year period before they may be used for the purposes identified in the approved long-term capital improvement plan.
The Other Capital Projects Fund is used to report the revenue and expenditures associated with a District approved referendum.
School Nutrition Fund 50
Revenues and expenditures for all Food Service functions must be accounted independently and are done so in Fund 50.
Regulatory changes impacting menu planning, ala carte sales, and supplemental income will adversely impact future revenues.
Fund 73
This fund is used to account for resources held in trust for employee benefit plans. Such plans must be legally established in accordance with state statutes, federal laws and Internal Revenue Service requirements. The District established a Fund 73 for post-employment benefits in 2005.
The Community Service Fund (Fund 80) was established to account for the community service programs. It is the smallest fund. When compared to the $109 million proposed operating budget, it represents 1.1%.
Services such as the Community Pool,Adult Education and our School Resource Officers are accounted for in this fund.The GivingTree Food Pantry, which opened inApril 2008, is also accounted for here.The tax levy covers a portion of the programs for community members, students and non-students.Approximately $300,000 is generated from donations, fundraising and fees.
Bay Harbor Elementary School Grades: Pre K-4
1590 Harbor Lights Road
Date of Occupancy: 2008
Village of Suamico
Square Footage: 80,000
Acreage: 17.438 (920) 662-8800
Forest Glen Elementary School Grades Pre K-4
1935 Cardinal Lane
Date of Occupancy: 1990
Village of Howard
Square Footage: 101,818
Acreage: 8.29 (920) 662-7958
Howard Elementary School Grades: K-4
631 West Idlewild Court
Date of Occupancy: 1955
Village of Howard
Square Footage: 42,274
Acreage: 6.58 (920) 662-9700
Meadowbrook Elementary School Grades: K-4
720 Hillcrest Heights Village of Howard
Date of Occupancy: 1976 Square Footage: 77,239
Acreage: 10.8 (920) 662-5000
Suamico Elementary School Grades: K-4
2153 School Lane
Date of Occupancy: 1954
Village of Suamico
Square Footage: 66,608
Acreage: 28.5 (920) 662-9800
Lineville Intermediate School Grades 5-6
2700 Lineville Road
Village of Howard
Date of Occupancy: 1972 Square Footage: 141,456
Acreage: 30 (920) 662-7871
Bay View Middle School Grades 7-8
1217 Cardinal Lane
Village of Howard
Date of Occupancy: 1963 Square Footage: 311,341
Acreage: 32.85 (920) 662-8196
Bay Port High School
2710 Lineville Road
Green Bay, WI 54313
Village of Suamico
(920) 662-7000
Date of Occupancy: 2000
Square Footage: 356,535
Acreage: 101
2700 Lineville Road
Green Bay, WI 54313
(920) 662-7874
Date of Occupancy: 2015
Tracy Barden,Aquatics Supervisor
From July 2024 through June 2025 the Community Pool served 53,950 patrons. Since its inception in 2016, the Community Pool has served over 499,700 patrons!
The HSSD Community Pool is an eight lane, 25-yard pool with an attached one-meter springboard.The pool is handicap accessible with built-in steps and a lift chair.The facility has individual male and female locker rooms with private showers, a family locker room, bleacher seating for spectators, and a dry space community room.The Community Pool functions as the home water for the Howard-Suamico Stormbreakers SwimTeam.
Kim Decur, Volunteer Coordinator
(920) 662-7711
Our mission is to enrich each student’s and citizen’s learning and development while building strong school/community relationships with an active, vibrant volunteer and community involvement program.
The Giving Tree
600 Cardinal Lane
Green Bay Community Campus (920) 662-7989
Kourtney Feldhausen, Student and Family Engagement Coordinator
The GivingTree provides support and supplements basic needs of families to enhance students’educational journey towards self-sufficiency, and works to serve our families facing economic challenges.The GivingTree will offer food, personal care items, school supplies, and winter apparel.
Nicole Smith, Executive Director (920) 662-8107
The Howard-Suamico Education Foundation’s mission is to identify and cultivate community champions for the purposes of funding innovative projects, leadership development, educational enrichment and scholarship programs that benefit Howard-Suamico School District students.
The Howard-Suamico 4-Year Old Kindergarten Program began in 2009-2010 and provides access to quality, developmentally appropriate learning opportunities for all 4-year-olds through community, school and family partnerships.
To improve academic success and close achievement gaps, research heavily documents the benefits of an early learning program for children, the community and society.The 4-Year Old Kindergarten Program is:
● An initiative that provides learning opportunities through play-based instruction for all four-year-old children in the Howard and Suamico communities;
● Taught by licensed Department of Public Instruction teachers;
● Offered to children who are four years old on or before September 1 of each year;
● Acommunity collaborative approach where the 4K school experience takes place within HSSD and at area preschool and daycare sites within both villages;
● Funded in combination with federal, state, and local tax monies;
● Transportation is available for resident students to the partner site nearest your home.
