[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-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],{"_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",6539877,"mediaKeyId","3548142-491a1a12fd04cf0420c537ffa431e781","parentId",3548142,"title","District presents preliminary 2025–26 budget showing $70.6 million in expenditures and $8.7 million projected general‑fund balance","audioSeconds",203,"startMs",961000,"endMs",1164000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3548142-491a1a12fd04cf0420c537ffa431e781&start=961&end=1164","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3548142-491a1a12fd04cf0420c537ffa431e781/thumbnail_961000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6539877/South-Dakota/District-presents-preliminary-202526-budget-showing-706-million-in-expenditures-and-87-million-projected-generalfund-balance","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6539877-0286210304b7f2e99f66b0b86ce451a1/orig.mp4?Expires=1776215618&Signature=Xoy-xnfzYnyTBOWs6CwxxFH464Y0Q9dxMn2uYcbi9N-ETMyzfNoe5bN4rH5jGla9QuCjoKxDOZwAbgSB7ftDk5~zKuijlW7Tx33W1OFWKAgrnV5JaNrQ7T~c2KtvwaR4~URSoGB3QnUfBjU7dTZcSOn9i3ZRMYwbWmWneV-yMNN8jbTq97DiccQn5tsEOIdHrPSidxhAcQKegdl3f1IA-Q-lPSNPz-CZr4pGwn920~-nLvKcZQ8bQVZXZT-JN9rqT63SmqNZWHN9s4i9zH7MKcqAGgXdrnewX38aROu~4badaJaD9nRn3MZBFjMwEaX2TIhBWazC2nhHw2KEORQzmA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Brandon Valley","date","2025-05-27T00:00:00Z","article","Brandon Valley School District finance staff presented the preliminary 2025–26 budget during the June 9 board meeting, outlining revenue sources, fund balances and multi‑year projections.

The most immediate numbers: the budget proposed total expenditures of $70,566,000 for 2025–26 and a projected general‑fund ending balance of roughly $8.7 million, or about 21.5% of next years projected general‑fund expenditures, finance staff said.

Why it matters: The preliminary budget frames staffing, capital outlay and transportation decisions for the coming year and establishes reserves that the district plans to use if certain revenues fluctuate.

Major figures and funds

- General Fund: projected revenue just under $43.0 million and expenditures just over $43.0 million, producing a small budgeted deficit ($80,000) in 2025–26 but a forecasted year‑end fund balance of about $8.7 million (about 21.5% of expenditures). Finance staff noted that the district often under‑expends the adopted budget, and projected a modest $200,000 year‑over‑year increase in fund balance.

- Capital Outlay Fund: revenues $10,265,000; expenditures $8.9 million; projected surplus about $1.335 million. Major uses include technology replacement (about $2.4 million), transfers (about $1.4 million) and facility improvements.

- Special Education Fund: revenues $11,277,000 and expenditures $11,085,000, for a projected small surplus ($192,000); staff described the special education budget as relatively stable but flagged it as one that can change rapidly.

- Bond Redemption Fund: revenues and expenditures both shown at about $3.44 million for 2025–26; debt service rises in 2025–26 to reflect new bonds issued for the new elementary school and middle‑school addition.

What drove year‑over‑year changes

- Staffing and salaries: The state sets an instructional benchmark salary used in the state aid calculation; locally, the districts benefits rate runs near 34% (higher than the 29% used by the state formula), and the presenter said increased salaries and benefits accounted for most of the increase on the instructional side.

- District adjustments: The board approved a $350 per‑staff salary enhancement and a 2.5% across‑the‑board raise in the draft budget; those items together accounted for roughly $850,000 of the general‑fund increases. Additional staffing and benefit changes were noted.

- Other revenues: The presenter highlighted volatility in the \"other revenues\" component of the state funding formula, especially bank franchise tax receipts; those receipts were $1.35 million in 2024–25 versus $850,000 the previous year (a $600,000 swing). Finance staff said those swings make multi‑year budgeting harder.

- Debt and capital: Debt service in 2025–26 rises to $2.351 million as the district begins paying bonds issued for the new elementary school and middle school addition. That increase was cited as a major driver of the higher debt service line; the presenter noted the district used capital certificates and other approaches to limit immediate levy impacts on taxpayers.

Enrollment and staffing assumptions

- State aid fall count projected at 5,225 students for 2025–26 (about +90 from the current 5,132), producing a teacher allocation (using 15 students per FTE) of roughly 350.25 teachers in the state formula. The presenter said the district plans 340 certified FTE next year in local planning while showing how state calculations differ.

- The district forecasted enrollment increases concentrated in the middle and high schools (a net rise driven by moving grade cohorts and larger incoming kindergarten classes), while elementary enrollment is expected to remain around current levels.

Policy and state law impacts

- The presentation flagged a pending change known as Senate Bill 216 (state level) that would alter how growth and valuation increases are treated in state funding; finance staff said the bill could reduce the districts ability to capture growth in the capital outlay fund in the form the district has previously experienced.

- Staff noted the district lowered its mill levy in recent years, absorbing valuation increases rather than raising taxpayers bills; the presenter said that step reduced immediate tax impact but that state policy changes could alter that dynamic.

Board reaction and next steps

Board members thanked finance staff and asked clarifying questions about the state aid formula, one‑time increases such as bank franchise taxes and the timing of debt service tied to the new elementary school. The board scheduled a public budget hearing at the annual meeting in July and will continue to refine assumptions as state guidance and valuation data are finalized.

Ending

Finance staff said the preliminary budget is designed to be sustainable across the next five years and to leave the district positioned to absorb potential swings in other revenues while the district completes construction and adds operating space for the new elementary and middle school additions.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Brandon Valley School Board Meeting 05/27/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The districts finance presenter outlined a preliminary 2025–26 budget with $70.566 million in total expenditures, a projected general‑fund balance of about $8.7 million (roughly 21.5% of expenditures) and items that could affect future years including fluctuations in \"other revenues\" and the pending state Senate Bill 216.","taxTitle","Brandon Valley School District 49-2, School Districts, South Dakota","taxId",65993,"location","South Dakota","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},6539882,"Assistant special services director outlines McKinney‑Vento and migrant supports, highlights transportation and meal challenges",1179,739000,1918000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3548142-491a1a12fd04cf0420c537ffa431e781&start=739&end=1918","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3548142-491a1a12fd04cf0420c537ffa431e781/thumbnail_739000.jpg","/articles/6539882/South-Dakota/Assistant-special-services-director-outlines-McKinneyVento-and-migrant-supports-highlights-transportation-and-meal-challenges","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6539882-766c609f173801c920983d491bd67545/orig.mp4?Expires=1776215618&Signature=Y3edyIzVI7RjOzHS1Hka7CRFORMXdIp79MbdaI03KY2GvfL3U~HHs13lx5n-lHaXYD2uR74nprzGW4cF5ENSwGTOBKR4GEbtcVYxeYNkrsLsaOPK-KEKNFqyxldLz~4LM5aBLXg6fTCHgXhY-j9E50LpVgXoeatffTgFyLXsYNLVFxAGXLx7ytzfIh-yNg230nlGswP5P2Geou6e9hohE-78z-X7Z0CG2uyDZGYn8DPg7RHtmopdGxE6musOctmfEDEiFfVu3PfLJCrMs18MV3IVDDhoPtfBrKdqaMTvBQ6nfmBz0xWRyxjjhqi2r6FuDEWikIBGP2wuAzuHhjxLzg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Brandon Valley School Districts Assistant Special Services Director gave a 30‑minute overview June 9 of the districts McKinney‑Vento (homeless children) and Migrant Education programs, describing eligibility rules, common barriers and steps staff take to enroll and support students.

The presentation said the McKinney‑Vento program, a federal law, \"provides educational rights and services to children who are experiencing homelessness,\" and allows a student identified as homeless to enroll \"without having to have any documentation,\" the director said. The director added that McKinney‑Vento protections include allowing students to remain at their school of origin even if they move outside district boundaries.

Why it matters: McKinney‑Vento and Migrant Education funding and practices affect meal eligibility, transportation, school stability and state reporting. The districts description indicates how staff identify needs and the practical steps the district takes to reduce educational disruption for mobile and unhoused families.

Key details from the presentation

- Eligibility and definition: The director said McKinney‑Vento applies to children lacking a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence, including families doubled up with others, children in motels, campgrounds or shelters and unaccompanied youth. The Migrant Education program covers students whose families moved in the previous 36 months to engage in temporary or seasonal agricultural work or who moved to join a migratory worker.

- Referral and intake process: Staff typically refer families to the district liaison, who contacts the family, asks about recent moves and coordinates with enrollment staff. The director said enrollment staff member Jennifer Swenson helps by asking targeted questions during registration and promptly notifying the liaison when concerns arise.

- Meal and nutrition supports: The district liaison said that once eligibility is determined she sends information to nutrition services and meals are provided free for eligible students.

- Transportation challenges and solutions: The director said district transportation will generally create routes for students living inside district boundaries, but when families live in neighboring districts the district explores options including paying for family transportation, arranging taxi service for short periods, or coordinating shared transportation with the neighboring district. She said decisions are based on how long the family will stay and the familys circumstances.

- Migrant program supports and eligibility: The director said Brandon Valleys EL programs help migrant students overcome language and cultural barriers, and that to qualify a family must have moved for temporary or seasonal agricultural work in the prior 36 months or a child must have moved to join a migratory worker.

- Other resources: The director said staff refer families to 211 for housing, food pantry, medical care and shelter referrals. She also said the state provides backpacks of educational materials to eligible migrant students at the end of the year to support summer learning.

- Outcomes and trends: The presentation noted that over the last three years six unaccompanied youth graduated as seniors, and that referrals to the districts McKinney‑Vento and Migrant programs have increased year to year. The director said transportation and meals were recurring needs raised by families.

Quotes

- \"They can enroll without having to have any documentation,\" the Assistant Special Services Director said of McKinney‑Vento enrollment rules.

- \"Transportation can be a little trickier,\" the director said, describing the districts work to create routes, arrange pick‑ups, or provide taxi services when families lack vehicles.

Context and background

McKinney‑Vento (the federal education law for homeless children) requires districts to remove barriers to enrollment and school stability; local implementation varies with staff resources and partnerships. The director noted the American Rescue Plan for Homeless Children and Youth grant purchases (books and training materials) the district received to support staff training and student family outreach.

Whats next

The director said staff will present training and short videos during fall in‑service to help teachers, counselors and enrollment staff identify students who may be experiencing homelessness and to describe referral steps. She also said the migrant backpacks will be distributed at the end of the school year.

Ending

Board members thanked the director and enrollment staff; a board member asked whether homeless students are typically already in district or move in during the school year. The director said both situations occur and that staff handle referrals as they arise.

","The districts Assistant Special Services Director summarized McKinney‑Vento and Migrant Education program rules and supports, described steps staff take to identify eligible families, and highlighted transportation and meal logistics and recent grant purchases.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

District presents preliminary 2025–26 budget showing $70.6 million in expenditures and $8.7 million projected general‑fund balance

Assistant special services director outlines McKinney‑Vento and migrant supports, highlights transportation and meal challenges