St. Francis Area Schools board reviews 2025–26 budget assumptions, schedules another revision

St. Francis Area Schools officials presented updated assumptions for the district's 2025'26 budget and asked the school board to approve a budget calendar and timelines for the next fiscal year.

District finance staff said the draft assumptions use an enrollment projection of 4,008 students for next year, a net decline of about 36 students from the current year. The presentation listed specific enrollment components: about 50 students in early childhood programs and 28 in voluntary pre-kindergarten. The district noted graduating seniors of about 320 and kindergarten enrollment of about 274 as drivers of the decline.

The finance presentation flagged an overall $889,000 increase in revenue breakdowns tied to grants and Title programs, a projected increase in third-party billing of about $175,000, and an expected $300,000 gain in interest earnings. On the expense side, staff identified higher costs for summer unemployment (about $212,000), increased electricity and property-insurance costs, technology and software, lease expenses and higher special-education reconditioning costs. The presentation also referenced a 0.6% paid-leave legislative requirement estimated at roughly $255,000.

"We take this opportunity to revise our budget for the current year based on more information that we have," a staff presenter said, noting this is a routine annual practice. The presenter also described a budget calendar that moves administration and cabinet work through to a work session and eventual board action, with a note that a final budget must be ready by June 30.

Board chair and staff read a resolution directing administration to make recommendations for reductions in programs and positions if necessary. The resolution was described as a formality to confirm the district continually seeks efficiencies and aligns staffing to enrollment. The transcript records that motions would be made to approve the 2025'26 budget assumptions and timelines and to approve the resolution, but the record does not specify the outcomes of those motions or any vote tallies.

Board and staff comments also addressed school-nutrition services, where increased meal participation (meals are provided free) led staff to propose higher revenue and higher associated food purchases and equipment spending. Community services revenue and expenses were also discussed, including preschool and program supply needs.

The district said federal COVID-related funding had ended and would not appear in next year's revenue, and staff described conservative assumptions on inflation and utilities, using a 2.4% baseline consistent with the district's funding-formula assumptions cited in the presentation.

The board scheduled additional review steps, including a likely revised budget to be presented in mid-May; no formal outcomes or vote results are recorded in the transcript provided.