Bermudian Springs SD projects $2.6M budget shortfall; board weighs tax choices and hours-based calendar

The Bermudian Springs School Board received a preliminary budget presentation on Monday that showed a projected $2.6 million deficit for the 2026–27 fiscal year under the current plan and outlined multiple options for closing the gap, including several real-estate tax-rate scenarios.

Assistant business manager Beth Heller and district finance staff presented five real-estate tax options (0%, 1.175%, 2.35%, 3.5% and the 4.7% maximum). The presentation showed the highest (4.7%) option would produce the most revenue but would increase the average property owner’s bill by as much as about $140 annually in the initial liabilities scenario shown to the board. The presentation also described a middle-of-the-road 2.35% option with an average monthly impact of roughly $6 for the average property.

Finance staff highlighted unusually high costs driven by cyber-charter tuition and special-education placements. The business office presented the district’s internal regular-education tuition estimate at roughly $10,000 per student and contrasted that with presented per-student charges from some cyber providers and out-of-district placements, which the presenters characterized as considerably higher. "Our current tuition rate for our own students at the secondary level is right around $10,000," a finance presenter said; the same presentation noted tuition rates charged by some cyber providers that were discussed as higher in order-of-magnitude terms.

Officials explained that enrollment shifts, particularly at the secondary level, and increased costs for contracted services (speech, occupational and physical therapy, behavioral specialists, cybersecurity and legal fees) are contributing to the projected deficit. Presenters described an estimated beginning audited fund balance of approximately $6.0 million and explained how the board’s choice of millage rate will affect the projected ending fund balance and the size of the deficit.

Board members asked about legislative prospects for cyber-charter reform and the governor’s pending budget proposal. Administration cautioned that state proposals are uncertain and will not be finalized until later in the spring; any state funding increases were not included in the district’s current projections.

The meeting also included extended discussion and a vote on the proposed 2026–27 academic calendar, which the administration had constructed on an instructional-hours basis (presented as about 1,032 hours total). Several board members expressed concerns that the hours-based calendar removes the previously visible, earmarked snow-makeup days and recommended either restoring specific makeup days on the calendar or increasing the total instructional hours. Assistant Superintendent Dr. Weyers explained the mechanics of hour-based calendars and said the proposed calendar meets state minimums while providing flexibility; the board voted to approve the calendar as presented.

During the superintendent’s report, Dr. Brad Sterner announced the district was awarded a PCCD safety-and-mental-health grant of a little over $130,000. He said the funds will buy additional cameras to address blind spots and support an additional K–12 mental-health counselor position.

The board approved routine items including the January minutes, multi-fund financial reports and multiple personnel items during roll-call votes. Several policy and operational updates (including a minor procurement-attachment wording change to Policy 626 to satisfy a food-service audit corrective action) were reported and will move through the policy committee process.

— Reporting from the Bermudian Springs School Board meeting