Superintendent warns of $2.8M operating deficit as ESSER reimbursements stall; board to consider a $100,000 scheduling study

Battle Creek Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Carter told the Board of Education during the April 14 work session that the district is preparing a conservative budget approach for 2025–26 after a series of funding shifts that together create an estimated $2.8 million operating deficit.

Dr. Carter described multiple drivers behind the shortfall: a statewide drop in identified economically disadvantaged students that reduces at‑risk per‑pupil funding, uncertainty in federal Title funding, rising retirement and health‑benefit costs and the end of ESSER (COVID relief) dollars. "We received $45,000,000 of ESSER or what is known as COVID relief," Dr. Carter said, adding that the district has used those funds for supplemental staffing and capital projects and is now planning how to discontinue nonrecurring programs with minimal impact on instruction.

Board members were also briefed on a specific ESSER issue. Director DeMott said the Calhoun Intermediate School District's revision for federal money was $11,000,009.80 on prior budgets and the preliminary 2025–26 figure is just under $5,000,000; she said the ISD was taking a conservative stance amid federal uncertainty. Dr. Carter described a separate ESSER extension of about…