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District warns of $10–12M savings need as enrollment falls; attendance steady, BOCES credits high
Summary
Trustees’ budget committee reported a need to save $10–12 million over three years tied to declining average daily membership. Attendance rates were largely flat year-to-year; BOCES dual/concurrent enrollment produced thousands of college credits.
The Natrona County School District #1 board’s budget committee reported that the district faces a projected need to realize $10 million to $12 million in savings over the next three years, driven in part by lower average daily membership (ADM) and enrollment.
Trustee report: the committee reiterated four budget priorities — maintain a focus on student learning and strategic goals; fund essential services; maintain competitive compensation; and keep facilities maintained to avoid deferred maintenance. Chief Financial Officer Matt Flood and Superintendent Hensley provided legislative and staffing updates to trustees during the budget meeting.
Trustees said the district plans programmatic reductions and operational efficiencies, including combining transitions and virtual programs and reducing allocations to schools based on enrollment. The district intends to protect classroom positions where possible and expects to use attrition as a reduction tool.
Staff also presented semester attendance data: districtwide attendance for semester 1 was largely unchanged from the previous year, hovering around 90–91 percent over the five-year trend. Reported interventions included more than 500 conferences districtwide and roughly 6,000 attendance letters sent during the semester; other interventions ranged from attendance contracts to home visits and, in some cases, court referrals.
Trustees received a BOCES report that said 1,254 students participated in dual and concurrent classes in 2023–24, earning a total of 8,961 college credits with an average of 5.86 credits per student and 84 percent of concurrent students earning an A or B grade.
Trustees emphasized the goal of limiting reductions to services delivered in classrooms and noted the budget committee will continue reviewing program allocations in light of available funding.
