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Board hears $4.1 million budget cuts, transportation overages and enrollment snapshot
Summary
Director Frederickson reported progress narrowing a year-end shortfall and presented a preliminary 2025–26 budget that reduces planned expenditures by about $4.1 million; transportation overages, special education cost increases and LTFM allocations were highlighted. Kindergarten enrollment stands at 499 with 103 open‑enrolled students.
Director Frederickson reviewed the district's cash flow and preliminary budget for 2025–26, telling the board staff had reduced projected year-end expenditures from an earlier gap to a smaller variance and that the proposed 2025–26 preliminary budget includes roughly $4.1 million in reductions.
Frederickson said the cash‑flow report presented at the study session shows significant progress since the report provided two months earlier. "Now 2 months later, the cash flow report will show that, we are down to $3.364000," he said, describing the narrower projected shortfall (staff clarified the figure during the discussion). The report also reflects a prior‑year audit adjustment and board‑approved use of fund balance.
On the 2025–26 forecast, Frederickson explained how the original October forecast was updated to reflect current actuals and an assumed 2.5% inflation factor; applying the updated starting point and inflation produced projected expenditures that led staff to recommend $4.1 million in reductions for the preliminary budget. "If we increase it to what we know is gonna be the actuals and then apply that inflationary factor, then, that's where we get to the 128,000,000 projected expenditures, which is why we cut the 4,100,000.0 for next year's budget," Frederickson said.
Board members asked about major drivers of expense increases. Frederickson pointed to special education costs (an 8.2% increase driven by unchanged staffing levels combined with negotiated salary increases) and sites-and-buildings allocations, where Long‑Term Facilities Maintenance (LTFM) carryovers and pay‑as‑you‑go projects caused the sites-and-buildings line to grow compared with the earlier forecast. He also described transportation as a continuing pressure and said an RFP for transportation services will be issued in the fall for the 2025–26 school year because the current contract runs for one more year.
Frederickson said the district is monitoring expenditures through the end of the fiscal year and will continue to try to close remaining gaps. He told the board the June 9 budget to be approved will show balanced revenue and expenses of about $123.2 million; if the state education funding picture changes materially, the district will prepare an amended budget and return to the board with a resolution.
On enrollment, staff reported K–12 enrollment at about 8,601 students (25 more than the same time last year and 18 fewer than October 1), and kindergarten enrollment at 499 students, of which 103 are open‑enrolled (four of those open‑enrolled into Westwood). The board scheduled further discussion on school‑closure/consolidation recommendations later in the meeting packet.
