Aberdeen School District 06-1 board advances 2025–26 budget on first reading and approves multiple policy changes

At a regular meeting, the Aberdeen School District 06-1 Board of Education approved the first reading of the district—s 2025—6 budget proposal and voted to adopt or advance multiple policy revisions, following a presentation by district staff.

The proposed budget presented by Miss Rogers shows total expenditures across all funds of $62,000,000 and projects an estimated surplus of about $605,000 for the fiscal year just closed. Rogers said the district still must accrue several federal receivables totaling about $417,000 and move certain T&A (transportation and activity) revenues and expenditures into the general fundadjustments she said total roughly $853,000 on the revenue side and $116,000 in expenditures. She also estimated additional payables of about $30,000 and said actual expenditures for the prior year were about 98.5% of budget.

"Pending any questions, I would ask for the board to approve the budget," Rogers said before the board moved the proposal to a first reading.

Rogers told the board the budget projects a 5.13% increase in a stated line item (as presented) and an anticipated 6.7% increase in revenues overall. She said local property tax revenue for all funds combined shows about a 2% increase tied to taxable valuations, and that the state—s target teacher-salary component was increased by 1.25%. The presentation used an enrollment projection that declines by 165 students for the coming year and noted that a Department of Education news release issued the same day made the district more confident that certain Title II funds would be available.

Board members asked for clarification about federal support for free and reduced-price meals amid broader federal funding uncertainty; Superintendent Dr. Guffins and staff said federal allocations already assigned for the current year would not change for this fiscal year but acknowledged funding shifts could affect future budgets.

Votes at a glance: The board recorded unanimous voice approval for the items below; roll-call tallies were not recorded in the transcript.

- 2025—6 proposed budget: First reading approved (motion by Olson; second by Brian Sharp). Outcome: approved on first reading. - Policy DGD-R (credit-card use): Second reading approved (mover not specified; second not specified). Outcome: adopted/approved on second reading. - Policy EEAG and deletion of form EEAG-E (student self-transport): First reading of revision approved and deletion of the associated form approved (motion to revise EEAG moved; second by Murphy; deletion motion second by Olson). Outcome: first reading approved; form deletion approved. - Policy JGB (restraint and seclusion): Revision approved to add federal definitions of "behavior intervention plan" and "functional behavior assessment" (moved by Gail Bortnell; second by Olson). Outcome: approved. - Policy JLDAA (confidentiality/parent access to portal): First reading approved (moved by not specified; second by Beckus). Outcome: first reading approved.

What the board discussed and why it matters: The budget presentation centered on the district—s general fund position and a set of internal adjustments that move some program revenues and expenses into the general fund. The projected $62 million in total expenditures and a roughly $605,000 surplus inform planning for staffing, health-insurance contributions and capital outlay; Rogers told the board that 88% of general-fund expenditures are salary and benefits, and that the district had provided a 1% raise to all staff and increased the district—s health-insurance contribution by 6% in the current year.

On policy items, the board approved a second reading of DGD-R dealing with credit-card use and approved clarifying and definitional edits in JGB (restraint and seclusion) using federal terminology. The EEAG revision consolidates an existing policy and a parent form into a single policy statement and removes the separate online form (EEAG-E). JLDAA changes add a clarification on how parents may initiate access procedures consistent with accreditation requirements.

Meeting context and next steps: Most votes in the meeting were unanimous voice approvals; the budget advanced on first reading and will return to the board for subsequent action as required by district procedures. Several policy changes were moved forward either as adopted (DGD-R, JGB) or as first readings (EEAG revision, JLDAA). The board did not record any formal roll-call vote counts in the transcript for the listed items. The meeting concluded with a unanimous motion to adjourn.