Board approves 2025–26 proposed budget and salary package; unanimous roll calls on consent items and resolutions

The Academy District 20 Board of Education adopted a proposed budget for fiscal year 2025–26 and approved the district’s salary recommendations after hearing staff presentations and public comment.

Budget and salary highlights - The district presented assumptions used to build the 2025–26 general fund budget: an estimated per‑pupil revenue of $11,035.35 (as provided by the School Finance Act), an anticipated headcount decrease of 43 students under the district’s conservative projection, and an estimated 3% increase in assessed valuation for the coming year. - New available resources for the budget were reported at about $7,380,000. The proposed budget uses a combination of that new revenue and fund balance; the presentation showed a planned use of unassigned fund balance of approximately $2,180,000 in the proposed budget. - Compensation: the recommended increase for existing staff is 3.5% total (2.0% recurring, 1.5% nonrecurring). The district reported the…