Huron Board outlines nearly $600,000 in proposed cuts to balance 2025–26 budget

HURON, Oct. 27 — The Huron Board of Education reviewed a package of proposed reductions on Oct. 27 intended to reduce the school district’s 2025–26 general fund by roughly $592,000 (about 3 percent of controllable spending).

Superintendent Dr. Steinhoff told the board the administrative team “has worked extremely hard to find cuts to this year's budget, ensuring that no employees have lost their jobs.” He added, “It's not enjoyable to work through right sizing our budget, but it is happening through collaboration, teamwork, respectful disagreements, and a solid plan and a timeline.”

Mr. Christopherson, who presented the detailed line‑item plan, said the administration set a $592,000 target and approached the task by seeking about 3 percent reductions in each controllable budget category. "Our goal is $592,000 to reduce from this year's general fund budget, which works out to be about 3% of our general fund budget," he said. He reported site‑and‑category‑level savings including moving some paraeducator positions to Title I, eliminating some staff travel, and shifting certain costs to the school nutrition or capital outlay funds.

Examples the administration cited:

- Buchanan Elementary: identified roughly $40,500 in savings by moving one half‑para to grant funding, trimming supplies and technology, and shifting some lunchroom supervision to the school nutrition budget.

- Madison Elementary: reported $126,500 in reductions (including not filling a third‑grade opening and moving a para to Title I); administrators noted a reduction of a 0.5 library paraprofessional funded from library budgets.

- Middle school: nearly $80,000 saved by not filling a science teacher position; additional reductions in English‑learner paraprofessional staffing and shared library paraprofessional time.

- High school: library staffing was adjusted (sharing a para with the middle school) and staff travel largely cut; credit recovery and the home‑education program were not reduced.

- District offices and programs: library staffing reductions totaled about $57,000; technology spending will be shifted to capital outlay where allowable; the board office discontinued some luncheons and is considering suspending the employee recognition banquet. Buildings and grounds identified ways to move allowable repair costs to capital outlay and asked the school nutrition fund to pick up some trash removal costs at the middle school.

Mr. Christopherson summarized the package by saying, "We came up with a total of $598,000 in reductions that we are going to try and implement for this budget, the 2526 budget." He and the superintendent emphasized that these changes address 2025–26 and that work on the 2026–27 budget — where administrators expect to seek at least another $600,000 in reductions — will begin in December.

Board members asked how shifting costs would affect other funds. In response to a question about the school nutrition fund, Mr. Christopherson said the nutrition budget is "probably the best shape it's ever been in" following successful summer feeding programs, but that the food service fund faces known upcoming capital needs such as kitchen exhaust hoods and failing freezers. On moving positions to Title I, he said, "Title 1 money came in a lot more this year. So we're we're good to move all that stuff at least for 1 year," but cautioned that Title I funding is uncertain year to year.

Several trustees expressed concern about the proposed reductions to music and library programs. Board member Ray said music represents a small share of total activities but a large share of proposed reductions and urged administrators to seek alternatives; other members urged exploration of foundation, community or donated funding to preserve programs where possible.

No permanent decisions for the 2026–27 budget were made at the meeting; the board accepted the administration’s recommended reductions for 2025–26 as the plan to implement for the coming year and directed staff to continue work on the next year’s budget.