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Charter School Authority approves FY2026 Budget Amendment totaling $39.2 million
Summary
The Charter School Authority Governing Board approved Budget Amendment No. 1 for fiscal year 2026, adding $1,288,608 to the adopted charter school budget to recognize prior‑year encumbrances, grants and a $268,000 use of fund balance for safety and security equipment. The amendment also authorizes 2.81 additional FTE for before‑and‑after care programs.
The Charter School Authority Governing Board of the City of Cape Coral approved Budget Amendment No. 1 for fiscal year 2026 on Jan. 13, increasing the charter school system’s budget from $37,919,009.40 to $39,208,005.48.
Nicole Reitler, the city’s budget administrator, told the board the amendment recognizes $737,000 in prior‑year encumbrances rolled forward and a $268,000 planned use of fund balance to purchase safety and security equipment. Reitler listed newly recognized intergovernmental and private grants, including awards recorded in the presentation from the Greater Fort Myers Chamber Foundation (recorded in the transcript as $500), the Richard M. Schultz Foundation ($5,000), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (about $138,000) and a Title IV allocation ($63,000); Lee County School District contributed $26,000 for recruitment and retention incentives.
The amendment allocates added revenue across operating and capital categories; Reitler noted amounts tied to capital and operating outlays in the record, including spending planned for buses, playground equipment, textbooks and design work on a culinary kitchen. Reitler also said the board previously approved the purchase of metal detectors and other safety equipment recorded here at $268,000.
Reitler said the before‑and‑after‑care program’s expansion required hiring 2.81 full‑time‑equivalent positions, bringing charter‑system staffing to 371.99 FTE for FY2026; she told members that any further midyear staffing needs would be handled through subsequent budget adjustments.
Board members asked how the program’s costs would be covered. Superintendent Jackie Collins said the added positions are supported by additional program revenue and that administrators would advertise for counselors as needed; Reitler added that if staffing must increase later in the year any costs would be included in a future BA2 amendment.
A member moved to approve the amendment; another member seconded. The board took a voice vote and the chair declared the motion carried.
