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MSBA tells Lindbergh board FY26 budget includes gains but urges cautious budgeting
Summary
A Missouri School Boards Association representative told the Lindbergh Schools Board that the state FY26 budget fully funds the foundation formula and includes other K–12 provisions, while urging boards to remain cautious in budgeting.
Caitlin Whaley, director of outreach for the Missouri School Boards Association, told the Lindbergh Schools Board of Education on June 17 that the legislature’s FY26 budget contains several items favorable to public education but that districts should budget cautiously.
"While it's exciting that we have a fully funded foundation formula, we do want to encourage you to budget cautiously as the governor does have the power to withhold funding anytime he predicts revenues might not meet projected expenditures," Whaley told the board.
Whaley highlighted funding items in the FY26 budget that MSBA considers notable, including full funding of the foundation formula, a baseline teacher salary grant and school transportation funding. She also said that Senate Bill 68 includes fixes related to K–12 provisions passed in prior sessions, and that MSBA’s policy department is preparing standalone guidance for local districts on a recently passed cell-phone policy.
Whaley said the MAP standardized test reporting will add a new category labeled "grade level," which MSBA leaders hope will make student-performance reporting clearer for parents and boards. She encouraged board members to maintain relationships with legislators and to consider submitting position statements to MSBA’s advocacy committee for the October delegate assembly.
Whaley also promoted the 2025 MSBA annual conference and noted awards and scholarship programs administered by MSBA.
