ISD 166 board approves schematic design, budget revisions and moves to closed session

The ISD 166 School Board met in April and approved a package of routine and project-related actions, including schematic design work for referendum 2, a revision to the 2026 budget and parameters to begin work on the 2027 budget.

Board members adopted the meeting agenda and a consent agenda at the start of the public meeting, followed by acceptance of the March expenditure and revenue report. Business manager Olberg presented the financials and said the district is about 75% through the fiscal year, noting timing differences tied to teacher payroll and routine debt‑service activity.

On construction matters, the board voted to approve the schematic design documents for referendum 2 and to move the project into design development. ICS representative Jason Philip told the board that referendum 1 has a budget of $26,149,594 and a cost to date of $2,950,188, with a projected surplus of $163,514. The schematic design estimate for referendum 2 was given at roughly $9.08 million with contingency bringing the total to about $9.9 million.

The board approved a budget revision for 2026 that reflects referendum activity and other adjustments; staff outlined an approximate $200,000 increase to the general fund in the revision. The board also approved the fiscal‑year 2027 budget parameters, which staff said assume flat enrollment and include potential staffing adjustments.

Other routine actions taken included accepting a slate of donations, approving the monthly personnel report (new hires and resignations), and a motion to move into closed session at 6:08 p.m. The public meeting then recessed for the closed session.

“The schematic design documents that were presented here … we recommend you vote to approve,” Jason Philip said as the board moved the referendum 2 design forward.

All motions reported in the meeting carried by voice vote; no roll‑call tallies were provided in the public transcript.