Superintendent outlines $800,000 in general‑fund reductions; district shifts some positions into Student Investment Account

Superintendent Lee Loving and Business Director Rhonda Allen detailed the staffing and program changes behind the district’s budget reductions for 2025–26, telling the budget committee the district trimmed about $800,000 from the general fund through a mix of attrition and targeted reassignments.

Specific cuts and moves: staff reported a reduction of 0.67 administrative FTE (including the director of safety, security and health via retirement), a reduction of 2 licensed FTE (through attrition at the high school) and a reduction of 1.82 classified FTE (including a reduction in campus monitor hours). In addition, the district moved 0.5 administrative FTE and 2 licensed FTE into the Student Investment Account (SIA) to avoid deeper general‑fund cuts.

SIA and timing: Rhonda Allen explained the SIA is a biannual, legislatively authorized grant tied to corporate activity tax receipts and noted carryover rules changed to end on June 30; she told the committee that some SIA positions are contingent on continued grant funding and that SIA funding must be managed carefully. "We have $2,100,000 and we have 9 FTE in that," Allen said as she summarized the SIA allocations.

Program impacts: staff said the reductions will not eliminate current high‑school programs but will likely increase class sizes in some areas. One high‑dosage tutor position (0.3 FTE) was reduced at a building; staff said another high‑dosage tutor remains in that building and that tutoring access will continue although with slightly larger class coverage in some grades.

Fiscal pressures and reserves: staff highlighted a projected $1.5 million increase in PERS liability to be accounted for in the coming biennium and described a careful approach to managing contingency and unappropriated fund balances; the board’s DBDB policy requires a minimum beginning/ending fund balance equal to 7% of the general fund, staff said.

Quotes and accountability: "This budget is both educationally sound and fiscally responsible," Loving said at the presentation. Allen acknowledged the season had been "challenging" and emphasized the district’s conservative assumptions on revenue and enrollment.

Next steps and follow‑up: committee members asked staff to provide additional breakdowns of facility and turf‑replacement reserve planning, to show total expenditures per student by location (including special revenue funds), and to clarify operating‑contingency targets; staff agreed to provide those details in follow‑up materials. The committee approved the overall budget recommendation and directed staff to transmit it to the school board for adoption.

Provenance: the staffing and SIA discussions are concentrated in the business director’s presentation and subsequent Q&A (notably SEG 242–381 and SEG 2272–2350).