Superintendent Benatta outlines budget calendar, policy review and student-support updates at Blackhawk school board work session

On Sept. 12 at the Blackhawk School Board work session, Superintendent Dr. Benatta presented a back-to-school update that front-loaded the district’s budget schedule and an internal policy-review effort. “Basically, we start budgeting in on September 30; by this day, we should get the Act 1 index,” Dr. Benatta told the board, outlining a timeline that moves budget preparations through October, manager uploads in December and a March preliminary draft that will be presented for public display after board approval.

The update matters because the Act 1 index determines allowable tax and budget baselines for the coming year; Dr. Benatta told the board the district will provide updates throughout the process and noted the annual audit begins in the same season. He said the district will start an internal policy review covering the ‘‘100s’’ section onward, noting many policies date to 2006 and first drafts will include strikethrough edits and added verbiage that the board can refine in later drafts.

Dr. Houston presented department-level details tied to student supports. “We currently have a child count of 426 students with individualized education plans, down from an initial count of 431,” Dr. Houston said, adding the district has about 65 students with 504 plans and roughly 80 students currently in evaluations. She described increased demand for mental-health services since COVID and said nursing and counseling teams are coordinating to address student needs.

Dr. Houston credited a state PCCD grant with funding some of the district’s therapist positions and said grant funding has been crucial to maintaining in-district therapy services for students who otherwise might be referred out. She described efforts to expand wraparound services and to identify sustainable funding should grant support lapse.

The administrators also highlighted programming and partnerships: Dr. Houston described a new robotics initiative that will include training in December and a prospective Metro Lodge / Special Olympics ‘‘moonshot’’ grant application that could provide additional support. The district is recruiting juniors and seniors for education-focused internships, and staff noted upcoming community events including open houses (Sept. 26 and Oct. 3), homecoming the week of Sept. 27–28, and a Best Buddies kickoff and holiday activities in December.

The board will receive further budget and policy presentations in coming months as managers prepare building-level budgets and the district advances the comprehensive-plan timeline due to the state the following March. Dr. Benatta and staff said they will post supporting materials on BoardDocs and present fiscal forecasting and revised budgets for review before the March preliminary draft.