Dysart officials outline $9 million cut scenarios if override fails; bond would fund new school and capital needs

Superintendent Dr. Crodo told the Dysart Governing Board that the district has prepared seven scenarios that would reduce roughly $9 million in annual spending in the first year if voters reject the district’s override on Nov. 4.

The scenarios — described at an information item during the meeting — range from eliminating full‑day kindergarten and reducing classroom positions, to deeper cuts that would reduce arts, music, physical education and some athletic programs. Dr. Crodo repeatedly described the numbers as “scenarios” and said final choices would be made by the board if the override fails.

Board members were given a line‑by‑line accounting of where the current override funding (about $26.88 million) is directed: teacher salaries and benefits, class‑size maintenance (about 150 teacher positions), K–3 interventionists and instructional specialists. The superintendent said a phased phase‑out would aim to remove roughly $9 million in year one and similar amounts in years two and three, totaling the override amount.

Why it matters: the override is operational funding that the district uses for classroom supports and staff. Separately, the district’s bond measure would provide capital funding for facilities — including an elementary school in the Assante area — buses, safety improvements and renovations. Dr. Crodo told the board the bond package was sized so that the tax rate would remain roughly even with current debt service as older bonds retire; the district estimates the bond would cost about $5.47 per month ($66 a year) on a home with a $200,500 assessed value.

Selected scenarios presented (figures from district slides): - Eliminate full‑day kindergarten (state funds half‑day kindergarten): estimated savings about $2.5 million, plus related position reductions. - Reduce certified classroom positions (examples shown at 50–75 positions depending on scenario) with estimated savings in the millions and an increase in class sizes. - Reduce or eliminate some music, arts and physical education positions and JV athletics (examples shown as multi‑million dollar savings). - Department and school operational cuts (a districtwide 10% example produced roughly $1.7 million from departments and $1.7 million at school budgets in the district’s conservative estimate). - Targeted reductions to exceptional student services (ESS) positions and paraprofessionals were shown as possible, with district staff noting ESS is not fully funded by the override and that federal/state funding covers only part of ESS costs.

Timeline: the superintendent said Nov. 4 is the election date. If the override fails, the board would receive updated options Nov. 17 and, if reductions are required, must identify reductions no later than the Dec. 15 meeting because staffing for the next school year begins in December.

Public outreach and bond context: Dr. Crodo and staff noted the district has held informational meetings for staff and the public, and that the bond committee convened in 2023. The bond proposal the district described would fund a new elementary in Assante (estimated in the presentation at about $35 million for an elementary), bus fleet replacement, safety/security improvements and building renovations (presentation total shown as about $127 million for the bond package). The administration emphasized that a new high school would require substantially more funding — the presentation cited recent high‑school construction estimates in the $135–$150 million range — and that the district is prioritizing acquiring land for a future high school.

Votes at a glance (formal motions recorded during the meeting): - Motion to adopt the agenda: outcome — approved (motion carries; individual roll‑call votes not specified in the transcript). - Approval of consent agenda items: outcome — approved (motion carries; individual roll‑call votes not specified in the transcript). - Approval of recommended policy revisions (multiple policy sections listed): outcome — approved (motion carries; mover and seconder recorded in the meeting but individual yes/no votes not specified in the transcript).

What the superintendent said about next steps: staff will continue community outreach, return Nov. 17 with revised options if the override fails, and present required staffing reductions by Dec. 15.

Ending: Board members asked clarifying questions about which budget lines would be affected, how reductions would be implemented and the interplay between federal, state and local funding for special education. Dr. Crodo and district finance staff said the slides presented were illustrative options to help the board plan for potential outcomes and that no cuts would be implemented without further board action.