School district projects roughly $19 million shortfall for 2025–26; staff propose program shifts and cuts

District staff presented a preliminary 2025–26 budget at a budget workshop, saying projected revenue of about $267 million falls short of proposed appropriations of about $286 million — a gap of roughly $19 million.

Jim (staff member, budget presenter) told board members the session was “probably unlike the other few we’ve had...there’s actually some numbers attached to it which helps when you’re trying to build a budget.” He and other staff emphasized that the figures assume the governor signs the state budget and that further clarifying detail will come from the Department of Education once that happens.

The presentation focused on enrollment-driven revenue and reallocated costs. Staff showed the district’s traditional FTE head count moving from an October-adjusted total of 21,988 to a projection of 22,034 for next year — a decline of about 536 students compared with last year’s projection. Scholarship-school enrollment has grown faster: staff reported a prior projection of about 1,215 scholarship students, actuals of about 1,392, and a projection of about 1,682 for next…