Newport board hears finance update; cyber‑charter formula changes reduce tuition costs

Jamison Magaro, the district’s director of finance and operations, reviewed October 2025 budget reports and an outline of state budget impacts at the Dec. 4 Newport Board of School Directors meeting. The board voted 6–0 to approve the combined budget reports.

Magaro told the board that revenues were at 37.5% of budget through October, below the prior years’ average of 48.5 percent, and that expenditures were at 32.85 percent compared with 31.08 percent in prior years. He said the state has passed a budget and that statutory changes to the cyber‑charter tuition formula will reduce the district’s tuition costs for cyber‑charter students.

"The new nonspecial education rate is $14,812.99 and the new special education rate is $32,795.94 per student per year," Magaro said. He estimated the change will save the district just over $94,000 compared with prior tuition calculations. Magaro also said the district currently has 72 regular education students and 40 special education students enrolled in cyber‑charter schools and that the year‑end cost for those students is about $2.3 million.

Magaro explained the formula changes reduce the nonspecial education tuition rate by adding deductions for tax assessment and collection services, 60% of student activities and 60% of operations and maintenance of plant services; it also excludes certain nonspecial education cyber costs and ADM from the calculation. He noted the state previously paid a cyber‑charter subsidy the district received ($131,000) that is no longer included under the new scheme and that the district lost approximately $30,000 in interest during the state budget impasse.

Superintendent Ryan Neuhard said he contacted PASA to explore whether a class action could recover lost interest and that he will keep the board informed. The board approved the October budget reports by roll call vote 6–0, with three members absent.