Ferguson‑Florissant superintendent previews budget targets, APR gains and electric‑bus grant in State of the District

Ferguson‑Florissant R‑II Superintendent Howard Fields outlined early actions from his first 100 days and a multi‑part plan to address the district's academic and fiscal challenges during a State of the District presentation on Nov. 5, 2025.

Fields said he is prioritizing three areas: reestablishing leadership structures and data collection, strengthening fiscal management and transparent communication, and elevating staff voice. "The first 100 were about listening, rebuilding trust, and restoring the foundation for progress," Fields said.

Why it matters: Fields told the Board of Education and the public the district is projected to deficit‑spend this fiscal year and that leaders must stop deficit spending and end reliance on the Tax Anticipation Note (TAN). To reach that goal, he said the district will target an unrestricted fund balance of about 21% and "strongly consider a tax levy increase and/or a bond issue very soon." He said a preliminary budget for the 2026–27 school year will be presented at the January board meeting.

Accountability and performance: Fields previewed the district's Annual Performance Report, saying Ferguson‑Florissant's overall APR…