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Board hears budget impacts: textbook funding shift, proposed classified raises and lunch price hike
Summary
District finance staff outlined cash balances and the effect of state funding changes on textbook support; the board approved classified administrator raises and a 25¢ lunch price increase for 2025–26.
MSD Wabash County Schools officials reviewed April cash balances and an updated cash‑flow projection tied to state funding changes, then the board approved classified administrator raises and a modest increase to paid lunch prices for the 2025–26 school year.
Chris, who presented the finance report, told the board the state will fold textbook funding into the basic tuition support starting in July and the district used an estimate of $20.70 per ADM for initial planning. He also flagged that per‑student support estimates will be reflected once the state issues final worksheets. Chris said the district has factored proposed classified administrator raises into the cash‑flow forecast and that operations and education funds will split the roughly $400,000 total cost about evenly.
The board approved a recommendation to raise classified administrators and staff, which the presenters said is intended to make those positions more competitive; the package represents about $400,000 in recurring compensation and benefit costs for next year. Trustees also approved a 25‑cent increase to lunch prices — the new student lunch prices will be $2.70 for elementary and $2.85 for secondary school lunches — after staff said rising food costs have increased the district’s food‑service outlays by an estimated $250,000 to $275,000 per year since 2020.
Administrators said the food service fund still carries a balance but has been drawing on reserves since pandemic-era federal meal funding ended; they described the price increase as an effort to slow reserve erosion and to continue offering free breakfasts where possible. The presenters also noted the district’s contingency and budget planning anticipates additional compensation obligations the board still may consider.
No specific reductions or program cuts were proposed at the meeting; staff said they will continue to monitor state guidance and revenue worksheets and present updated forecasts as final state figures are released.
