Stewartville board approves $450,000 budget alignment package

Stewartville Public School District — The school board voted to approve a three-tier budget alignment plan on a 7-0 vote, authorizing Tier 3 and potential transfers up to $450,000 for the 2026–27 budget year.

Administration presented three options developed to align staffing, programming and operations with projected revenues. The board’s Tier 1 package, described as the baseline, would reduce costs by about $350,000 through staffing attrition and targeted reductions in subscriptions and program budgets. Tier 2 would add roughly $50,000 in measures (bringing the combined total to about $400,000) and included an item described in the transcript as a proposed $10 increase to activity fees (the transcript lists the current fee as "$1.40" rising to "$1.50"; district staff should confirm the correct figures, as the audio appears to contain a transcription anomaly). Tier 3 would authorize access to assigned-balance transfers up to $450,000 if needed, without making permanent staffing cuts.

Board members asked for clarification that transfers from the assigned balance would be used only as a temporary measure if required. One board member emphasized that approving Tier 3 authorizes Tier 1 and Tier 2 measures as well. After discussion, a board member moved to adopt Tier 3 for $450,000 in alignments; the motion passed unanimously.

The board did not specify which exact positions would be changed as a result of the approved tiers in the public discussion; administrators said staffing adjustments reflect attrition and that the replacement hires would likely come at lower salary steps in some positions. The board indicated it would provide further public details if specific position changes are proposed.

Next steps: The district will implement the authorized transfers and alignments as needed and report outcomes to the board. The board approved the motion during the meeting and did not request further action before the adjustment authority was used.