District proposes $35.7M in priority investments for 2025–26, including grow‑your‑own teacher pipelines and custodial staffing

Chief budget staff and program directors presented possible 2025–26 operating investments on April 21 and outlined a schedule to present a preliminary budget for board action in late June. The staff package combines baseline roll‑forwards with new strategic and equity proposals.

The administration outlined two tables of priorities. Table 1 included step and lane adjustments and a 2.95% CPI assumption (estimated $10.1 million), a proposed 20‑FTE unallocated pool for enrollment flexibility, continuation of class‑size policies and an allocation adding roughly 12 FTE compared with 2024–25 primarily to preserve K–1 small classes and expand full‑day 4K. Table 2 totaled roughly $15.2 million and included items proposed for new or continued funding: health insurance baseline renewal estimates (~$11.3M), dental/long‑term disability (~$0.8M), a second cohort for the Grow Your Own…