Rockford district projects enrollment dip, approves Q2 budget revision that trims deficit
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Summary
CFO Bridget Peterson presented enrollment projections and a Q2 general‑fund budget revision that increased projected revenues and reduced the district's projected FY‑26 deficit; the board approved the revision unanimously by voice vote.
The Rockford Area Schools Board of Education approved a revised FY‑26 general fund budget after the district’s chief financial officer told trustees that updated state aid, special‑education adjustments and higher interest earnings improved the district’s outlook.
Bridget Peterson, the district’s CFO, said the revision increases projected revenue by about $802,000 — driven in part by special‑education funding adjustments and a pension offset — and raises expenses by roughly $367,000, yielding a substantially smaller projected deficit than the budget approved last June. "With a revenue increase of 800 [thousand] and an expense addition of 300 [thousand], I have reduced our deficit from 582,000 down to about a $150,000," Peterson told the board.
The revision followed an enrollment update Peterson presented earlier. Using a five‑year migration trend, she said the district expects enrollment to decline next year, adding that the projections are conservative. "We will decline, from around 15 15 20 students today, to about 14 85 students," she said, noting the projection methodology uses one‑, three‑ and five‑year trend mixes.
Board members asked about staffing implications and coding for staff development. Peterson said some previous years’ staff‑development spending had not been coded to the required account, creating an apparent underspend; she is reallocating eligible professional‑development activities and one‑time offerings to demonstrate compliance with state requirements. "We are providing PD to our teachers," she said, and the budget revision clarifies coding so the district can show those expenditures to the Minnesota Department of Education.
Superintendent Jeff Rydelbuor and the CFO also discussed statewide pressures on special‑education funding. Rydelbuor reported a recent state statute that would reduce special‑education funding and said districts are worried the proposed cuts will target ATSIS and special‑education transportation. "This has been a really hot topic," he said, urging trustees to engage with professional groups and legislators.
After questions and discussion, Eric Gordy moved to accept the Q2 budget revision; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. The board’s approval allows the administration to adopt the revised revenue and expenditure estimates and continue planning for staffing and other adjustments prior to spring break.
The board will continue to monitor enrollment trends; Peterson said the district has already started outreach, is consulting a demographer and is seeing stronger kindergarten registration than in recent years.
