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McPherson board authorizes publication of 2025–26 budget; facility-assessment timeline set
Summary
Board members authorized publication of the district’s 2025–26 budget and received an update on a districtwide facility assessment. The board was told building-by-building assessments will feed community meetings and a December decision timetable for long-range planning.
The McPherson USD 418 Board of Education voted 6-0 to authorize publication of the district’s 2025–26 proposed budget and to proceed with the revenue-neutral-rate and budget hearings scheduled for September.
A district finance presenter reviewed key dates: the revenue-neutral-rate (RNR) hearing is set for Sept. 15 at 5:30 p.m., followed by the budget hearing at 5:45 p.m.; the district will submit the finalized budget to the Kansas State Department of Education by Sept. 20 and to the county clerk by Oct. 1, staff said. The consultant also explained Code 99, the summary document published in the local paper that summarizes a Kansas school district’s proposed budget.
The presentation noted the state base aid per pupil increased from $5,378 to $5,615, a roughly 4% increase versus the prior year. District presenters said the budget the board authorized incorporated that increase and a conservative FTE (full-time-equivalent) projection; district enrollment and final audited FTE figures will be reconciled as the year progresses.
On facilities, engineer Dwayne Cash and a representative from the consulting team reported the facility assessment team has inspected all district buildings and performed mechanical and structural engineering reviews. Cash said staff interviews have been completed at all buildings except one and that a staff survey will be distributed to gather priorities from building-level employees.
Administrators said the assessments, staff interviews and a capacity analysis will be combined into a facility report card for each building and presented to the board at an upcoming meeting; the district plans building-level community meetings in September and October and aims to present a set of options with price points for board consideration by December.
During the meeting the board also approved routine items (consent agenda) and accepted donations from community groups to support elementary classrooms; those motions carried by voice votes recorded as 6-0.
The board was asked to prepare questions in writing to help staff and consultants compile written responses before any special sessions; officers said they would coordinate scheduling and give the board two-week notice for any special meetings if needed. The board also discussed the possibility of disaster-relief funding and single-audit timing for federal grants; staff said the district will return with additional detail once the facility engineering documents and budget schedule are firmer.
