District outlines federal Title allocations and child‑nutrition reserve concerns in FY2026 budget
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Summary
Enterprise City Schools budget staff reviewed Title I–IV, IDEA and Perkins allocations inside special revenue funds and said child‑nutrition reserves may require a local pass‑through of up to $720,000 under conservative budgeting scenarios; staff also explained Title I school allocation processes.
During the FY2026 budget presentation, Enterprise City Schools staff reviewed federal program allocations in the special revenue fund and described child‑nutrition balances and potential pass‑through needs.
Federal program overview Jesse said total federal and special revenue funds were budgeted at about $13.5 million, with Title I representing the largest share and increasing roughly $287,000 from the prior year. He explained required set‑asides within Title I (for parental involvement and homeless supports) and that administrative and professional development set‑asides represent about 11.5% of the Title I pot. Staff described the process by which Title I schools form school committees (principal, bookkeeper and staff representatives) to decide how school Title I pots are spent, including personnel and intervention choices. Jesse said the free‑and‑reduced lunch rate is the predominant factor determining Title I eligibility and referenced a typical threshold near 45%.
IDEA and Perkins Special education (IDEA) funding was presented at about $1,400,000, with the majority going to salaries and benefits for special‑education aids and support staff; Jesse said the district manages maintenance‑of‑effort obligations by weighting some aids in the funding mix rather than hiring additional teachers. Perkins (career‑tech) grants and state operational funds provide materials, supplies and equipment for career‑tech classrooms; the presenter said local dollars supplement the federal/state career‑tech pots and highlighted a pending equipment grant application.
Child nutrition and reserve posture Jesse said the child‑nutrition beginning fund balance was projected at $1,500,000 and that the program is required to keep a one‑month operating reserve and not exceed three months. Budget staff said, as a conservative estimate, the district budgeted a possible pass‑through of $720,000 to return the program to its required reserve level; about half of that modeled amount was state money and half local. He also noted transfers made from summer feeding and supper programs into the regular child‑nutrition pot in the prior year (about $700,000 total) that improved reserves.
Ending Staff framed the federal program presentation as largely formula driven and subject to federal/state notifications; several allocations had arrived late in the process and staff said they would provide additional detail at the next budget session.
