District updates committee on state budget, special education funding and ESSER spending

Superintendent Dr. Dan Seibert updated the Policy and Government Relations Committee on the 2025–27 state budget process, special education funding debates and how the district has used federal ESSER dollars.

Seibert said the Joint Finance Committee has begun hearings and noted that Senator Bradley, a member of that committee, is a local contact for the district. He summarized the district’s recent fiscal strategy: investments of roughly $6 million over three years in staff resources, 37% of ESSER funds targeted to learning recovery and educational resources, 53% of ESSER and related funds used on HVAC and building work, and a $15 million facilities investment last summer. He said those steps were taken without requesting additional levy dollars from local taxpayers and that the district has been repaying a 2018 referendum early, producing $1.7 million in taxpayer savings to date and an expected savings closer to $2 million after continued defeasement.

On special education, Seibert said the district currently transfers about $20 million annually from its special-education fund to the general fund and receives roughly 30% reimbursement for mandated special-education costs. He told the committee some proposals in the state budget discussion would increase reimbursement to approximately 60% and called such a change “significant,” because raising reimbursement would reduce the local transfer and increase spendable revenue for all programs.

Board members supported creating a concise, pictorial advocacy sheet summarizing the district’s investments and funding requests for legislators and urged the superintendent to share it with Senator Bradley and other local legislators ahead of future hearings.

No committee vote was required; members discussed outreach and next steps for legislative advocacy.