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District outlines preschool staffing cuts and capacity shifts to reduce $531,000 projected deficit
Summary
Steamboat Springs School District presented options to shrink preschool staffing and reassign seats across schools to lower a projected FY27 net loss of about $531,000 while preserving special-education placements and state preschool funding.
Stephanie Juno, the district’s director of finance and operations, told the Board of Education on April 6 that direct preschool revenue for the current fiscal year was budgeted at $657,000 and could reach about $700,000 by year-end. "We have budgeted revenue at 657,000 for preschool, and I believe we might end up with about 700,000 in the end," Juno said.
Juno said the district operates six preschool classrooms (two at each elementary site) with a combined maximum capacity of 102 seats but had 67 enrolled as of April 2. She said nonwage preschool expenses total roughly $15,000 and that, under current enrollment patterns, the program is projecting a net loss of about $531,000 for the year.
To reduce that shortfall, Juno and preschool director Kim Delaney outlined staffing and capacity options for fiscal year 2027: funneling general-education preschool students to Soda Creek Elementary where space exists; capping some classrooms at 10 students each and sharing a paraeducator between rooms; and holding hiring decisions until after summer enrollment trends are clearer. Delaney said the district will prioritize space for students with IEPs and can add staff if enrollment unexpectedly rises.
Board members asked for clarifications about enrollment assumptions. Aboard member Laura noted the district had received more state 3‑ and 4‑year‑old funding than budgeted to date; Juno said monthly payments are tied to children-in-seat counts and that the district has successfully claimed additional funds so far.
The presentation did not include a formal board vote to change preschool operations that night; Juno said the item is intended to solicit board feedback and that staff would return with specific implementation details. Next procedural steps she recommended were to finalize caps and staffing plans for FY27 and reconsider the program again at the same point next year if enrollment remains low.
