[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6059198,"mediaKeyId","3295431-b75aeb055b3eca84c2e16bff31bf797c","parentId",3295431,"title","Shakopee schools present FY26 preliminary budget showing planned use of reserves to hold fund balance at 10%","audioSeconds",1029,"startMs",1623000,"endMs",2652000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3295431-b75aeb055b3eca84c2e16bff31bf797c&start=1623&end=2652","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3295431-b75aeb055b3eca84c2e16bff31bf797c/thumbnail_1623000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6059198/Minnesota/Shakopee-schools-present-FY26-preliminary-budget-showing-planned-use-of-reserves-to-hold-fund-balance-at-10","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6059198-ebc215f8f41db791c2a059f7ebd29447/orig.mp4?Expires=1771026252&Signature=gBVkjVc5v6rHfF66ncGWbK1T-tGxkBFCGS7yOHKykBVx3tPm4IhYKlbIR5eeudYbB195zvoo8G-UOi5cts2mQcCGuCP6QXqZKE0cu13bh5p-SyDDd~~Jnu0aZpoRZG-8GyymoRI5yxFW0Wf7-sH-UsE7dmjrj-RQAGE7T8PVIDDgIyy-RL0byICAbxT5yf6qS77VkEJnNPHQ8NWQYZVgNPt2CxitCj3DamxS4GILdMrO5V67VoX~lmEk0ihagiCZIRRuuwAWoaw0co5WqyTiKt-dVYYr9in5slfYG-4b4cxzpQ6iuLk7iXlvLLaMqdIQztKOtyLQ8OVQACG6RDzBAA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Shakopee Public School District","date","2025-05-13T14:17:20Z","article","Shakopee Public School District finance staff presented a preliminary fiscal 2026 executive summary to the school board on May 12, saying the district expects to use a portion of restricted and assigned fund balances to keep the unassigned general fund balance near its 10% policy level while noting structural budget shortfalls beginning in fiscal 2027.

Director of Finance and Operations Zolmanazi told the board that the districts proposed budget shows total revenues of $167,326,700 and total expenditures of $174,016,805 for fiscal 2026. \"Our unassigned fund balance in the general fund is projected to end next year at 13,180,000.00, which is good for 10%,\" Zolmanazi said, adding that doing so requires planned use of restricted and assigned fund balances.

The document reviewed several assumptions used in building the budget: an operating levy authority of $1,371.84 per pupil for taxes payable 2025; a 2.34% inflation factor tied to the operating levy cap; a state aid formula increase of 2.74% that sets the statewide formula allowance at $7,281 per pupil; and an enrollment projection of 7,457 students for the coming year, a decline of 82 students (about 1%). The presenter told the board the district has seen roughly a 9% enrollment decline since fiscal 2020, driven primarily by declining birth rates in Scott County.

Zolmanazi walked the board through fund-level projections in the packet. The general fund revenue line is shown at about $125.5 million with expenditures of about $132.2 million; food service is projected to begin the year with a fund balance just under $2.9 million but to run a slight deficit under conservative assumptions; the internal service (self-funded health and dental) fund is projected to end the year near $1.43 million; and the OPEB/trust account is projected near $5.7 million. The presenter highlighted two significant upcoming debt \"drops\" (sizable principal payments) in fiscal 2027 and again in 2031 that will affect the district's debt service planning.

Board members asked follow-up questions about the timing and size of the debt drops, historic savings from recent refundings, and how one-time or assigned funds (for curriculum purchases and operating capital) are being used to smooth the FY26 budget. Zolmanazi said the operating capital fund includes a planned $1.8 million spend-down next year.

Superintendent and finance staff reiterated that the districts FY26 budget is balanced as proposed but that continuing the current set of services into FY27 without further revenue or cuts creates a structural deficit. During a later financial update the superintendent and other administrators told the board that closing the FY27 gap will require a mix of permanent budget reductions, revenue options, or both, and that the district's ability to avoid large service reductions will be limited by the fact that roughly 90% of general fund spending goes to salaries and benefits.

The board was reminded the document is available for review and that staff expect few changes before the June 23 board action on the budget; Zolmanazi asked trustees to submit questions in advance. The presenter also noted an enrollment study by Hazel Reinhart will be delivered in June and could inform final assumptions.

Looking ahead, staff said they will present more detailed scenarios for FY27 as they refine revenue and expenditure projections and seek direction from the board on trade-offs between program reductions and revenue options.

Less-critical details: the presentation packet includes 44 pages of schedules and explanatory material (enrollment history, fund summaries, debt schedules and the budget calendar); staff encouraged trustees to review pages 3, 5, 9, 15

and 25

through 35 for fund-by-fund detail before the June review.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Shakopee Public Schools May 12, 2025 Board Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Shakopee Public School District finance staff presented a preliminary fiscal 2026 executive summary to the school board on May 12, saying the district expects to use a portion of restricted and assigned fund balances to keep the unassigned general fund balance near its 10% policy level while warning of structural shortfalls beginning in fiscal 2027.","taxTitle","SHAKOPEE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT, School Boards, Minnesota","taxId",38434,"location","Minnesota","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6059179,"District highlights $500,000 Grow Your Own grants and scholarships for aspiring teachers",714,455000,1169000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3295431-b75aeb055b3eca84c2e16bff31bf797c&start=455&end=1169","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3295431-b75aeb055b3eca84c2e16bff31bf797c/thumbnail_455000.jpg","/articles/6059179/Minnesota/District-highlights-500000-Grow-Your-Own-grants-and-scholarships-for-aspiring-teachers","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6059179-69d66c5dd7d513532a24f9aad077c015/orig.mp4?Expires=1771026252&Signature=Quc7-KAC28XUiPMGYCn8crPKcrNjSeqPU6MU-H61c7u1fbmt~SkrzaPqv4UPR8n6pdOMUU5dlEIt5Sv8DguWLZ-KgTPp9XTroUmI~pMzFSIhGJOfHYDDRFkzNtLYdkd-RcNuzGioxHAOhpVtbYJ74iC9HFLIVN4LZaLMDkqT6hufyIrlZQQUFRNXU6Jwg1D~okcQ8l84DCMCX7fn48s5gHjWdD-hv42ulx3Cqv5iTzEPQ3EZUO5I-SvzQrfqQQkT0OeWzGXRCWyV54Nt8Yr-bClACtTFpEtqBhMejLY8rdAtWku~Hh9ti8OTh4o-3jKuWMdaT6cemwaQCHVQnP2bvg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Shakopee Public School District staff briefed the board on an ongoing \"Grow Your Own\" teacher scholarship program funded by a recurring grant; presenters said the district received $500,000 in 2025 to support aspiring-teacher pathways and scholarships.

Assistant Director of LTE Sarah Wareberg presented item 3.2 and described the districts multiple-year participation in the Grow Your Own grant program and its use to underwrite travel and registration costs for national competitions and to fund scholarships for students pursuing teacher pathways. Wareberg said the 2025 award of $500,000 has been used to create scholarship opportunities and that the goal is for the students who receive the scholarships to return to Shakopee to teach, when possible.

Staff noted three of five students going to an FCCLA national competition are Grow Your Own scholarship recipients, and that the grant has helped cover travel and registration costs that otherwise would be a significant out-of-pocket expense for students. The board thanked community donors and staff involved in administering scholarships and in supporting student participation in career pathways that lead to teacher recruitment.

The presentation included a photo of recent scholarship recipients and staff; trustees did not take formal action on the item, which was provided for information and recognition.","District staff described a recurring Grow Your Own grant (2025) that provides about $500,000 to support aspiring teacher scholarships and includes a goal that scholarship recipients return to teach in Shakopee when possible.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6059184,"Board adopts new secondary ELA and social studies curricula and elementary language-comprehension framework",1457,5001000,6458000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3295431-b75aeb055b3eca84c2e16bff31bf797c&start=5001&end=6458","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3295431-b75aeb055b3eca84c2e16bff31bf797c/thumbnail_5001000.jpg","/articles/6059184/Minnesota/Board-adopts-new-secondary-ELA-and-social-studies-curricula-and-elementary-language-comprehension-framework","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6059184-356b9a67c7b3c31b8204875b4e3d357d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771026252&Signature=QGekkVHUUFWfUVEUDuNhfKDD7fC8ovWn0KMZJM3ykpu~IpzNceOszVSxIY2rhFT~80P1OF-TwXwHFjfb6n9D42F1K0bkZ2YOl3M34BQeqGI9XseVPAuLS3O7tZGLnVKTYHQCKD6U2NjOSnjrxaZme~56hnivcgikMfEozCO639vwv6mnxKhyPVn0M6oJgRrLkfyWGvO6KOvXbHCecYHsUzE2sKyIw9bqAMGFazfMQ8~lwIvZy1GCDngvB4NVNATWuDxAVuy6kk1rvQtxfgCvbn8boKUj5tMJgfiLAbjyvDHXIiGNLxpZDK9yhvqR88z6BQdq4phnN64L8DrtslrVvg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Shakopee Public School District board on May 12 approved a set of curricular adoptions for secondary social studies and English language arts as well as elementary language-comprehension materials, following a multi-year needs assessment and pilot process described by curriculum staff.

Assistant Director of LTE Sarah Wareberg and Assistant Director Nica Sommer presented the recommendations. Wareberg explained the districts multiyear process: needs assessment based on new state standards, domain-based rubrics developed by teacher teams, piloting and internal reviews. For social studies grades 10

through 12 the team recommended the TCI curriculum for its inquiry-based approach; for secondary ELA the staff described piloting and alignment work with middle- and high-school teams and proposed options for 6

through 8 ELA with a recommended vendor for 9

through 12.

Staff said implementation work will include writing instructional hubs and assessments, refining report cards and parent rubrics, developing supports for multilingual learners and students with disabilities, and preparing principal and teacher professional development. Wareberg said elementary writing and other implementation work will occur across the next school year and a broader rollout would continue in 2026

27.

Trustee Peterson moved to approve the curriculum recommendations and Trustee Brophy seconded. The motion passed unanimously with no recorded dissent.

Staff emphasized this is part of a multi-year change that includes piloting, teacher training and internal articulation teams to support a \"guaranteed and viable\" curriculum across grade bands. The purchase and implementation schedule and supports for special education and multilingual learners are described in the board packet.","Trustees approved multiple curriculum adoptions covering 9\n\nthrough 12 social studies, 9\n\nthrough 12 English language arts, selected 6\n\nthrough 8 ELA options, and a K\n\nthrough 5 language comprehension program after staff outlined vetting and implementation timelines.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6059188,"District staff recommend Palmer Bus for type-3 (van/small-bus) routes; board discussion centers on capacity and backup service",147,4218000,4365000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3295431-b75aeb055b3eca84c2e16bff31bf797c&start=4218&end=4365","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3295431-b75aeb055b3eca84c2e16bff31bf797c/thumbnail_4218000.jpg","/articles/6059188/Minnesota/District-staff-recommend-Palmer-Bus-for-type-3-vansmall-bus-routes-board-discussion-centers-on-capacity-and-backup-service","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6059188-c7f3f82cdb9c03497529cbe1639fe6bd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771026252&Signature=ipFv1NASNnSjKKGgkxT-rcT77G7fxyaucjVplokaCg4VQtzyw8ZGniQq2v99gIAKFqX69fpzPHQH~UcFuLc8MMUq9rqupZ-ShJ4CgfcFtyeDut4my78JbwTy7Qk-bas8d1wVa2-TNxUySXZPguccWGwqmsq0iA-QF9rQ4IrDZFUbtPo1mMfxm9yX~DFkuayQbRWCPdm~WcJLRKhKYsnpaiRXqw3x6AZ~wt2wDy5LvDPpesqhc3WBy56OHecJxLrn1uAPl1gzW46OgUX~ZlrgX7aUKOIMDbtvojm-aUNLt9o0vVQ8zI9HbNQo9VZ9QWFPqr4kHIQHFlTC3IQUK9G13Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Shakopee Public School District staff recommended the board award the two-year type-3 transportation contract (vans/small buses often used for special education and other specialized routes) to Palmer Bus and to use First Alts as a supplemental provider if Palmer cannot meet a specific need.

Director of Finance and Operations Bill Benazzi told trustees the district received nine quotes after a request for qualifications and that, based on current usage, the district pays about $1.92 million per year for type-3 service. He said Palmers quote was roughly $1.87 million for year one and about $1.93 million for year two under the proposed contract. \"Based off our current usage, we're paying in the neighborhood of 1,920,000.00, per year for our type 3 transportation,\" Benazzi said.

Staff described two operational models: a broker model (where a prime contractor subcontracts to local van services) and a traditional operations model. The recommendation to select Palmer reflected staff confidence in a traditional operations approach and Palmer's capacity to provide consistent service. The district also proposed a supplemental agreement with First Alts to provide per-trip retainer service when needed; staff said supplemental invoices would be based on utilization rather than a standing retainer.

Board members and administrators discussed statewide service challenges in type-3 transportation, vendor capacity and whether the district could someday bring the service in-house. Trustees praised the procurement process and the depth of review, and special education staff reviewed and supported the recommendation.

The transcript records staff recommendation and discussion but does not show a recorded board vote on this item in the provided excerpt; minutes and formal contract documents will reflect whether and when the board takes final action.","Staff recommended awarding a two-year type-3 transportation contract (vans/small buses typically used for specialized transportation) to Palmer Bus, with First Alts suggested as supplemental provider; staff emphasized state-wide supply challenges and estimated FY26 costs slightly lower than current usage.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6059193,"Board approves 1-year pilot to add an enhanced ninth-grade restart day to ease transition to high school",1229,3015000,4244000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3295431-b75aeb055b3eca84c2e16bff31bf797c&start=3015&end=4244","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3295431-b75aeb055b3eca84c2e16bff31bf797c/thumbnail_3015000.jpg","/articles/6059193/Minnesota/Board-approves-1-year-pilot-to-add-an-enhanced-ninth-grade-restart-day-to-ease-transition-to-high-school","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6059193-918de5b0b75935587f919b8fdc8bdb4b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771026252&Signature=nOcBwSuan~uvoI5o3DFC~mSS0~ZbNi~dip-beW4Y43I7oZLuMe4Sa-7kufHp0Ql2Oz2ChV6hKKqZeloKJP1081Lhz5tjq85X8pYwAQ5OSR5170D0tMLGiX9vizFs7n4zC94AA3e9qmbv-Ex6kyxxnMq7VWFk1DKv~qLEM5dR6efCbzJ34Gr3wD9BMgXmV1--bRWNzPD82EAz-Go~WnI-u3b9LvQhEpPv-M5RJG6OHeY5o70HRtmQ9TF0JBlh9zaFFFsUg9S5X2NfAgFVDygxPVJ7OvKZsMYOnUJZDiRMKJy8VXIy5ghJN--VNyPMV-80ca7VuXKiUC17VCczWW75GA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Shakopee Public School District Board voted May 12 to approve a one-year pilot giving ninth-graders an enhanced restart day before the official start of the school year, an orientation intended to help incoming students meet teachers, receive materials and acclimate to the high school building.

Board Member Peterson moved to approve the pilot and Board Member Brophy seconded; the motion passed unanimously after no further discussion was recorded.

District staff described the proposed pilot as an extended orientation day that would give freshmen the opportunity to collect learning materials, meet teachers and learn facility logistics ahead of the first academic day. Staff also said they would design activities to include students who are new to the district in grades 10

through 12 and to avoid excluding returning students. Trustees and presenters discussed the need to evaluate equity of access and how to make the day meaningful for older students who are not new to the district.

During discussion trustees asked whether one year would provide enough information; staff and board members said it should be tried once and evaluated. The board approved the one-year pilot and asked staff to report back on outcomes and recommended changes after the pilot.","The Shakopee school board approved a one-year pilot to add an enhanced ninth-grade restart/orientation day before the official start of classes; supporters said it would help students and parents acclimate and staff will evaluate equity and participation after the pilot year.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Shakopee schools present FY26 preliminary budget showing planned use of reserves to hold fund balance at 10%

District highlights $500,000 Grow Your Own grants and scholarships for aspiring teachers

Board adopts new secondary ELA and social studies curricula and elementary language-comprehension framework

District staff recommend Palmer Bus for type-3 (van/small-bus) routes; board discussion centers on capacity and backup service

Board approves 1-year pilot to add an enhanced ninth-grade restart day to ease transition to high school