Board approves budget calendar, allocations, fees, borrowing authorization and other items

Stevens Point Area Public School District Board of Education members approved a set of budget and operational measures and several routine items during the meeting.

The board adopted the 2025-26 budget calendar and guidelines, approved building-level per-pupil allocations and departmental allocations for the 2025-26 budget, adopted the student fee schedule for 2025-26, authorized a tax revenue anticipatory promissory note (short-term borrowing) not to exceed $3,000,000, approved a five-year renewal commitment with a virtual academy partner, and approved the district-sponsored field-trip list. Most votes were approved by voice vote or roll call as recorded in the meeting minutes.

Why it matters: several of these approvals affect how referendum and general funds are distributed across buildings and departments, how families are charged for optional activities, and the district's short-term cash management at known low points in the fiscal year.

The board's major approvals and key details

- Consent agenda: Approved (includes minutes, monthly bills and employment recommendations). The motion carried on roll call; board members present recorded affirmative votes.

- Budget calendar and guidelines for 2025-26: Approved by voice vote. The calendar sets the schedule for upcoming budget development and hearings.

- Building per-pupil allocations (2025-26): Approved. Total proposed allocation for building budgets: $1,943,100. Motion carried by voice vote.

- Department allocations (2025-26): Approved. Total proposed department allocation: $8,353,444, representing a 4% increase. Approved by voice vote.

- Student fee schedule (2025-26): Approved. The board noted available confidential fee-waiver procedures; last year about 37% of elementary students and 15% of secondary students received fee waivers. Approved by voice vote.

- Resolution to authorize taxable tax-revenue anticipatory promissory note (cash-flow borrowing) up to $3,000,000: Approved on roll call. Administration and the business office explained the district's fund-balance drawdown over recent years, the annual pattern of low cash points (notably in late fall and in spring), and that the note is a short-term liquidity tool; interest costs were described as expected to be minimal if used. The board recorded an affirmative roll-call vote; the motion carried.

- Renewal of contract/commitment with a virtual academy partner (five-year renewal): Approved. The administration reported that current costs and enrollment (about 37'42 students in recent years) make maintaining the existing contract the most cost-effective option versus standing up a district-run virtual program or engaging another state virtual provider.

- District-sponsored field trips list: Approved. Administration provided per-student cost estimates for each trip and described fundraising and fee-waiver options for students who cannot afford participation. The board discussed equity concerns and asked administration to explore additional proactive supports to broaden access.

Meeting context and next steps: board members noted the approvals were part of implementing referendum commitments and rebuilding fund balance over several years. Administration will continue to provide cash-flow and fund-balance reports, utilization metrics for new initiatives, and follow-up information requested at committee meetings (for example, further detail on class sizes, EA (educational assistant) time allocation, and the student-fee waiver uptake).