Board approves 2025–26 budget and multiple district policies; lunch price to rise 25¢ if state funding changes

The Elizabeth School District Board of Education on June 9 approved the 2025–26 budget and a package of resolutions, policies and administrative actions. The board voted unanimously on each item recorded during the business session.

Votes at a glance (motions approved, roll‑call outcomes)

1) 2025–26 Budget Adoption and Appropriation Resolution Motion: “I move that the board approve the 2025–26 budget adoption and appropriation resolution as presented.” Outcome: Approved (roll call: Directors Callahan, Olsen, Powell, Waller — all "Aye"). Notes: Administration reported reorganization of line items (utilities, copier leases, trash) into appropriate departments and an ability to invest approximately $800,000 in capital projects while projecting an 8% fund balance at year‑end. Administration said a modest projected deficit (noted in meeting as $4,610) will be covered by carryforward funds to preserve targeted reserves; the board discussed a 10% rainy‑day target over the next two years.

2) 2025–26 Interfund Borrowing Resolution Motion: “I move that the board approve the 2025–26 inter fund borrowing resolution as presented.” Outcome: Approved (roll call: unanimous). Notes: Resolution authorizes temporary short‑term transfers between funds for cash‑flow management provided amounts are returned by fiscal year end.

3) School District Lunch Fees (price adjustment) Motion: “I move the board approve the school district lunch fees as presented.” Outcome: Approved (roll call: unanimous). Details: The board approved a 25¢ increase to student breakfast and lunch prices. Adult lunch and milk prices were not increased. The administration said the increase moves student charges closer to federal reimbursement levels and that the district will continue to provide free meals at the start of school; if a proposed state funding measure on the November ballot fails, the state intends to stop the temporary universal school meals support and districts will need to charge non‑eligible families. Administration stressed the district will continue to promote completion of free/reduced meal applications because those forms affect Title funding and exemptions from other fees.

4) Correction to 2025–26 Coaches' Salary Schedule Motion: “I move that the board approve the coach's salary schedule as presented.” Outcome: Approved (roll call: unanimous). Details: The approved revision fixes two swapped amounts on published tables: assistant coach starting rates for longer‑season sports and middle‑school head coach starting rates were corrected as described by administration.

5) Revised Board Meeting Schedule (move from Mondays to Tuesdays) Motion: “I move that the board approve the 2025–26 revised Elizabeth School District board schedule as presented.” Outcome: Approved (roll call: unanimous). Notes: Administration suggested combining work sessions with regular meetings some months; board asked to consider at a future retreat.

6) District Accountability Committee (DAC) Bylaws revisions Motion (amended): Board approved revisions to the DAC bylaws incorporating two‑year terms, one‑year officer terms, and staggered membership language (administration clarified teacher representation as one teacher from elementary, middle, high school and one from the charter school). Outcome: Approved (roll call: unanimous).

7) ESEA General Assurances form; Audit engagement; and other grants/forms Motion: Board approved submission/authorization for: (a) ESEA general assurances to allow federal Title allocations; (b) execution of the audit engagement letter with the selected auditor; and (c) the board asked administration to notify the board of grants under $10,000 while larger grants require board action. Outcome: All approved (roll calls unanimous where taken).

8) Policy and regulation readings and approvals The board voted on and approved multiple policy readings (some final, some as first/second readings) with clarifications to be made by administration where noted. Key policy actions included: - KHC (Distribution/posting of promotional materials): final reading approved; administration to revise the regulation to remove an appeals step and clarify newsletter/link options for parents. - GBEBA (Dress code for employees): reading approved; board directed administration to refine language on business casual definitions, jeans, footwear and hair color to address classroom distraction concerns and to allow specified spirit‑week exceptions. - GVEE (Staff use of internet and electronic communication): reading approved; board requested clearer language about allowable professional uses of personal devices (including emergency/response uses), that phones be silenced unless preapproved by administration for a stated professional reason, and limits on submitting personally identifiable information to third‑party AI tools. - DD (Funding proposals, grants and special projects): final reading approved with an agreement administration will notify the board of grants under $10,000. - ADC (Tobacco‑free schools, vaping): final reading approved with parental notification provisions added. Outcome: All policy motions approved (roll calls unanimous when recorded). Where the board approved a policy reading but requested wording changes, administration will bring revised language back for finalization.

Administrative consent items and routine approvals

- Consent items 8.1–8.3: approved (roll call: unanimous). - Coaches schedule, ESEA assurances, audit engagement: approved as noted above.

Context and next steps

Board members repeatedly directed administration to return with clarified language on several policies (KHC regulation, GBEBA dress code, GVEE device use) before implementation; in most cases administration agreed to bring updated language at a future meeting. All recorded votes during the business session were unanimous among the four directors present (Director Fletcher was absent).