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Colorado Springs School District 11 adopts 2025–26 budget after amendment removing two union-release FTEs
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Summary
The Board of Education approved the district—s 2025——26 budget, including a roughly 10% staff compensation package, after voting to remove FTE allocated to the CSEA and ESP presidents. The board approved multiple related fiscal and policy resolutions during the meeting.
The Colorado Springs School District 11 Board of Education on Wednesday approved its fiscal year 2025——26 budget after an amendment removing full-time equivalent (FTE) positions that had been allocated to the salaries of the classified employees association president and the educational support personnel president.
The budget vote followed an amendment proposed by Director Nelson and a lengthy public and board discussion about priorities. Superintendent Gahl said the budget was designed to shift resources "as close to students as possible" and described it as "a hallmark budget" that ties dollars to schools and students.
Board members said the spending plan prioritizes classroom resources and staff compensation. The final adopted plan includes the compensation package the district characterized as a roughly 10% increase distributed across employees.
Why it matters: The budget sets spending and staffing for the coming school year and reflects the board—s decision to reallocate some central office and reserved funds to schools and employee pay. The amendment to remove two union-release FTEs was a contested element of the board—s deliberations and required a separate roll-call vote before the board adopted the amended budget.
What the board did - The board passed a motion to amend the proposed budget to remove the FTE allocated for the salaries of the CSEA president and the ESP president. Director Nelson moved the amendment; it passed on roll call (6 yes, 1 no). - Following that amendment the board approved the appropriation resolution for the fiscal year 2025——26 budget as amended (final roll-call: unanimous aye). Superintendent Gahl described the budget as redirecting funds to school-based authority and called the compensation package and administrative reductions ——a strategic shift—— toward classroom resources.
Discussion highlights - Director Nelson, who moved the amendment, said she was "frustrated" that the discussion occurred late in the cycle and emphasized transparency and timely communication with the board and staff about contract and staffing changes. - Director Hart said she opposed removing the union-release positions on principle but supported the final budget so the district would have an approved spending plan before the summer. - Superintendent Gahl defended the budget's design and said the district must align resources because enrollment and funding trends require direct, school-based investments: "This budget represents our acknowledgment that we can no longer continue to squirrel money away and hide it and hope that things get better." (Superintendent Gahl)
Votes at a glance (selected fiscal and related actions adopted during the meeting) - Resolution 2025-25 (Student fees, fines and charges for 2025——26) — Adopted (roll call: majority aye). - Policy BDFM (Mill levy override governance) — Adopted. - Several personnel- and process-related board policies (GCKAA; GCQA; GCO; GDE/GDF) — Adopted, effective 07/01/2025. - Repeal of legacy negotiation/meet-and-confer policies (GBDA, GBDB, HH and associated regulations) — Adopted, effective 07/01/2025. - Direction to the superintendent to remove language aligned to repealed policies in the board policy manual — Adopted. - Resolution 2025-33 (Use of portion of beginning fund balance) — Adopted. - Resolution 2025-34 (Designation of fund balance) — Adopted. - Resolution 2025-35 (Interfund borrowing) — Adopted. - Resolution 2025-36 (Appropriation of FY2025——26 budget) — Adopted as amended (final vote: aye). - Mitchell High School: 3-year renewal as a school of innovation — Approved. - Charter approvals (East Hills Academy and Spruce Community School) — Approved (see separate article for details). - Affirmation of superintendent—s expulsion decision for Student A through 04/28/2026 — Affirmed by the board (vote recorded; student privacy limits comment).
Implementation notes and next steps - The board instructed the superintendent and staff to implement the budget as adopted and to return required reporting and follow-up items in accordance with district policy. - The board also directed administration to provide guidance and operations-level details about how staff affected by the removal of FTE allocations will be transitioned and supported.
Ending Board members and administrators said the budget is intended to be a starting point to shift authority and resources to schools and to make the district more competitive for families choosing schools locally. The board will reconvene for routine business in August; implementation actions and any required follow-ups will be reported to the board and posted in board documents.
