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Springfield R‑XII reviews budget calendar, proposes three‑year stipends for six campuses

3043050 · March 26, 2025
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Summary

The district presented an overview of the 2025–26 budget development schedule and proposed three‑year strategic support stipends for six schools; projected operating reserves remain well above board policy targets.

Kara Stacel, executive director of business services for Springfield R‑XII, gave the board a high‑level introduction to the district’s budget development process and a preliminary fund review on March 25.

Stacel said the board adopts a budget each June and that the district’s Annual Secretary of the Board Report (ASBR) must be filed with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education by Aug. 15. She noted the district’s ending fund balance last year was 30.36 percent and the current projected ending fund balance for the year is about 26.96 percent — both well above the strategic plan target not to fall below 17 percent and the board policy target of 15 percent.

The nut graf: the presentation framed near‑term budget work (tax rate hearing in August, final budget recommended in June) and proposed targeted supports for six campuses as an item for future budget commitments.

Stacel outlined the district’s four major reporting funds (general, teacher/special revenue, debt service and capital projects) and described that nearly 80 percent of operating fund expenditures are salaries and benefits. She also explained that about 90 percent of operating revenues come from local and state sources and that a majority of local revenue is received in January or February each year, reinforcing the district’s need for reserves.

On targeted supports, Stacel recommended a three‑year commitment of a “strategic support school” stipend for all staff at six campuses: Boyd Elementary, McGregor Elementary, Williams Elementary, Pipkin Middle School, Reed Middle School and Westport K‑8. The stipend is intended to fund additional professional development and supports for whole‑campus needs (behavioral supports, math and literacy instructional strategies and family engagement), and Stacel said the proposal is projected into the proposed 2025–26 budget.

Board members asked questions about capital fund balances and purchase‑service classifications; one asked whether teacher stipends are coded as salary (Stacel: “That would be a salary type payment”). Several board members praised the clear presentation and requested deeper dives in upcoming meetings on the general/teacher funds, debt service and capital.

Ending: Stacel said a deeper set of budget presentations will return to the board April 15 (debt service, bond and capital) and in May (general and teacher funds), with the final budget recommendation in June.