Seven teachers took Kenosha Unified up on an offer to take a voluntary layoff or extended leave as the district still grapples with a potential $9.3 million budget shortfall.

Sheronda Glass, executive director of human resources, said she had hoped at least 50 teachers would have taken the voluntary layoff offer, and there are no plans to sweeten the deal at this time. Had that many taken the offer, it would have saved the district another $3.2 million.

Kenosha Unified officials thought they had a balanced budget in January, but went into the red after Gov. Jim Doyle announced a 2.5 percent cut to state school aid.

The seven volunteers will save the district about $525,000.

Glass said, on average, teachers make $56,788 in salary, and the district pays an additional $18,212 in health benefits.

District officials have repeatedly said they could save $4 million a year while providing the same insurance benefits if teachers would switch to the less expensive United Healthcare.

Union officials have insisted the care would not be the same, that savings isn’t accurate, and there is no guarantee that United Healthcare wouldn’t raise costs if they switched.

In addition to the seven voluntary layoffs and extended leaves, there are 154 vacancies within the district and a hiring freeze in place.

Glass said the district will soon meet to decide which of those positions must be filled, and which ones will remain unfilled to meet the budget.

The four administrative positions and salary ranges are:

In addition to these positions, there are 11.5 hourly wage positions including preschool coordinator, secretaries and night custodians, with salaries ranging from $13.06 to $18.87 per hour.

There are an additional 138.5 teacher positions currently open. At least 30 of those are special education and bilingual positions that Glass said the district will fill.

She said the district will have a better idea of which jobs will remain frozen and if there will be more layoffs by the beginning of July.