District 11 unveils preliminary budget proposal that prioritizes classroom pay, trims central office

The Colorado Springs School District 11 Board of Education on April 23 heard a preliminary budget presentation from district staff that centers on increasing pay for school-based staff and shifting spending away from central administration. District officials said the plan directs almost all new recurring state funding to compensation for staff near students, funds a substantial nonrecurring pay component, and relies on additional realignments to preserve classroom positions.

The recommendation arrives as district leaders said state-level funding remains uncertain and enrollment trends continue to affect the districts per-pupil revenue. Officials said the district expects roughly $5 million in new state funding under the School Finance Act this year, and that the compensation package the board reviewed will cost more than that on a recurring basis.

Why it matters: District staff framed the budget as a strategy-driven exercise to move resources to instruction and classroom-facing staff. Presenters said the district has already reduced central-office spending in prior years and will continue reorganizing central functions to make recurring and nonrecurring dollars available for teacher pay, pupil supports and prioritized student programs.

What administrators told the board - District staff told the board a roughly $5 million increase tied to the School Finance Act is expected, while the cost of the compensation package shown to the board totals about $8.4 million in recurring salary and benefits when fully annualized. Staff said they…