Board recommends budget calendar, preliminary revisions for full board review; district reports improved cash flow

The board received the district’s 2025 budget calendar and a first set of midyear budget revisions and recommended both items for placement on the full-board agenda for final approval.

Miss Hauser, a district staff member, presented the December financial report and the budget calendar. She reported that December included one of the year’s largest state aid payments, and that January will bring tax receipts and federal claims that will improve near-term cash flow. On the revenue dashboard she noted the district had received about 28% of budgeted revenue and that expenses were under 40% through the first half of the year.

The first-round budget revisions reduced the projected deficit and included several specific items: a $15,000 increase in local revenue from sale of surplus Promethean boards; additional state and federal aid discovered since the original budget; a $75,100 increase in school budgets to support furniture and resources for Southside’s shift to all-day 4K or pre-K; an approximately $25,000 increase in central office expense for property tax chargebacks; and a $1,000 correction to the wellness budget. After the revisions the projected fund balance shortfall moved from about $1,490,000 to about $1,400,000; staff said two further revisions are expected before June.

Board member Brent Gilbert raised staffing and capacity concerns for all-day pre-K, noting classroom sizes near 23 and reporting conversations with staff about stress and retention. Administration said the superintendent and relevant staff would meet the next day to discuss classroom staffing and supports.

The board voted to recommend the 2025 budget calendar and the 2024–25 budget revisions to the full board (motions placed on the full-board consent agenda).