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Weston County board adopts 2025–26 school budget and approves multiple personnel and policy items
Summary
At a regular meeting the Weston County School Board approved the 2025–26 budget, accepted several resignations, approved transfers and hires, and adopted handbook and policy changes; board members warned federal grant uncertainty may force program cuts.
The Weston County School Board approved the district's 2025'26 budget and a slate of personnel and policy actions at its meeting. District finance staff presented projected revenues and the board voted to adopt the budget by voice vote.
District finance staff member Angie told the board the proposed general fund revenue estimates include $3,500,000 in local revenue, $600,000 in county revenue and $12,852,000 in state revenue (including reimbursements). Angie said the district's estimated general fund carryover is $2,000,000 but cautioned that figure is not final because there are outstanding June bills. Angie described the 2025'26 total general fund expenditure budget as $16,952,000 and said the figure includes wages and benefits.
Board members approved the budget after brief discussion; the action was carried by voice vote. Several board members stressed the uncertainty of federal and state grant funding and urged caution using general fund carryover to replace federal-supported positions.
Votes at a glance
- Adopt 2025'26 budget (general fund $16,952,000; federal fund $1,000,000; major maintenance $1,400,000; lunch fund $455,000; recreation fund $273,018; BOCES/agency fund $69,179; capital construction $2,468; special revenue fund $13,823): motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved (voice vote).
- Approve early graduation request for one student (name withheld from packet): motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved.
- Accept certified resignation of Alondra Munoz (elementary teacher): motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved.
- Transfer Jackie Guzman from elementary kitchen assistant to middle/high school kitchen assistant: motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved.
- Transfer Tracy Lam from a 5-hour to a 6-hour kitchen position: motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved.
- Accept classified resignation of Lawrence Edgar (custodian) and authorize posting: motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved.
- Approve classified hire Mikaela Stevenson (special education paraprofessional): motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved.
- Approve classified hire Clasey Domina (special education paraprofessional): motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved.
- Accept classified resignation of Loline Carter (middle school special education paraprofessional) and authorize posting: motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved.
- Approve certified hire Lolin Carter (one-year elementary teacher position): motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved.
- Approve certified hire Lexus Volker Ingle (elementary teacher): motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved.
- Approve classified hire Scott Garhart (maintenance tech): motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved.
- Approve classified hire Kelly Wellman (kitchen assistant): motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved.
- Approve revisions to the school district athletic and activities handbook for 2025'26: motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved. Discussion clarified that some activities may count Saturdays as contest or activity days but not Sundays, and the district contracts with hospital staff for sports medical coverage.
- Eliminate policy LBC-e (relations with homeschool standardized reporting form) to align with changed state law: motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved.
Board discussion and context
Board members and staff repeatedly emphasized uncertainty in federal grants. Angie said Title II (staff development) funding was unknown at the time of the meeting and that Title I had a $40,000 shortfall; she explained that using general fund dollars to replace federal-funded positions leads to long-term obligations because federal funds cannot be restored to cover wages once the district pays them with general funds. "If you take something that is funded by a federal grant and you use general funds ... you are stuck paying with that out of the general fund," Angie said.
Multiple board members urged fiscal caution and noted falling student counts (ADM) reduce state funding per teacher. One board member said the district must plan to raise teacher base pay to remain competitive and that smaller cohorts will eventually force program reductions.
Ending
Board members moved from budget business into personnel and other agenda items after the vote. Several personnel recommendations were handled by unanimous voice votes; no roll-call tallies were recorded in the meeting minutes. The board flagged several items for future attention, including follow-up on federal funding uncertainties and committee assignments.
