Superintendent Herman presents state of the district: revenue rise, tight margins, expanded free breakfast and program investments

Superintendent Herman delivered a State of the District presentation summarizing finances, program spending and strategic priorities. He reported operating revenue for the 2024–25 year of $49,700,000, and said the district expects roughly $55,000,000 for 2025–26 after valuation changes and a Nexus settlement that the superintendent said should yield about $3,000,000 annually. He also noted the district receives about $4,000,000 per year in permanent improvement funds used for longer-lived capital needs.

Herman said 2024–25 expenditures totaled about $49,400,000, which left the district narrowly avoiding deficit spending. He emphasized that roughly 85% of the operating budget pays salaries and benefits for teachers and staff, while insurance and inflation remain cost risks. He noted the district is in the first year of a three-year contract with unions, which supports short-term budgeting.

Program-level figures provided in the presentation included approximately 950 students receiving services through individualized education programs and 504 plans, at an estimated cost near $8,100,000; around 759 students identified as gifted with program costs near $500,000; and operating/maintenance costs near $4,500,000. Herman described transportation needs for a geographically large district (roughly 77 square miles): buses drive about 10,000 miles annually, serve roughly 2,500 riders and require a fleet of about 40 buses. He said the district replaces about three to four buses annually, with a minimum bus bid around $110,000; those replacements come from the permanent-improvement fund.

On technology, Herman said the district maintains a 1:1 device program for students (devices retained in lower grades and taken home by upper-grade students), funds technology staffing from the general fund (about $500,000) and uses permanent-improvement funds for device and laptop replacement projects.

Herman also described food-service operations: the district served approximately 50,000 breakfasts and 267,000 lunches last year; about 18.4% of students qualify for free and reduced-price meals. The district began a free breakfast program this year using food-service carryover funds (including COVID-era reimbursements), and reported the program’s participation has doubled to tripled since the change.

On facilities and capital projects, Herman listed recent and upcoming work and cited a fuel-pump replacement project with an estimated cost of $1 million to $1.2 million to be undertaken in the summer and paid from permanent-improvement funds. He also announced an initiative called "Generals for Generations," a separate 501(c)(3) foundation of volunteers intended to raise private dollars for projects the general fund cannot cover.

Herman framed the district’s progress within the 2022–2027 strategic plan, reviewed five strategic goals (student learning, curriculum & instruction, community engagement, resources & facilities, students and staff ready to learn), and said planning for the next strategic cycle will begin as the current plan approaches its final year. He closed by encouraging community feedback and participation in upcoming events.

A coach and athletic director visited the dais to recognize the girls soccer team’s state championship. Coach Lori Williams highlighted team achievements, including a 4.16 team GPA and a 19–0–3 season record.

The presentation provided baseline budget figures and program context that the board can use for future budget planning and levy or funding discussions. Board members did not vote on new budget allocations during the presentation; routine approvals followed later on the consent agenda.