Board hears warning that state 'recalibration' could shrink aid to smallest districts

Sheridan County School District #3 trustees spent a large portion of their meeting reviewing proposed state "recalibration" language and its potential effects on very small districts. Speaker 2 told the board the draft emphasizes an evidence-based model and includes a recommended fix to the "small school adjustment," but warned that the draft also assumes the small-district adjustment would no longer be needed.

Why it matters: the board was told the current small-school cliff means losing students can suddenly drop a district’s state funding by an amount local officials described as “about $300,000.” Speaker 2 said the small-district adjustment currently provides the district the funding equivalent of about 4.57 teachers — "to us in terms of the funding model is $350,000. It's 10% of the budget," Speaker 2 said — and that removing that adjustment while fixing the small-school metric could leave the district materially worse off.

Board members asked for continued involvement. Speaker 2 said, "I think my biggest work and the reason that I'm gonna continue to be involved in this, through January when the bill draft is provided and through the legislative session," and urged the board to watch the bill’s final language before taking positions. Members noted the draft’s opening line directs legislators to take the consultant's recommendations but that later lines add provisions outside the consultant’s scope.

Special-education funding was raised as a linked concern. Later in the meeting the board considered a WSPA resolution asking the state to change its special-education reimbursement schedule to monthly or quarterly payments; Speaker 2 said the current timing forces small districts to front large costs, offering one example: "the student that's placed in Massachusetts is costing them one of our small districts over $700,000 a year," and argued more frequent reimbursement would ease cash-flow stress for districts that must pay for residential placements immediately.

What’s next: Trustees said they will monitor exact bill language, consult with legislators, and decide whether to direct their delegate assembly representative how to vote. The board did not adopt a formal lobby position in the recorded segment but said members want to see the final draft before acting.