Superintendent flags operational funding gap as state funding model shifts; board to meet on preliminary budget May 5

Superintendent Harris told trustees April 21 that while the state’s recalibrated funding model appears to improve instructional funding for teachers, the district faces uncertainty and likely shortfalls on the operational side that covers custodians, food service, transportation and facilities.

“Based on the model … things look pretty decent within the instructional silo,” Harris said, but he warned the district appears to be “under what we need for the operational side” and that the board and administrators were checking with the Wyoming Department of Education and the attorney general’s office for guidance. Harris said officials expect additional guidance soon and that the district’s business manager will present a preliminary budget on May 5.

Trustees discussed concrete pressures: long-standing activity subsidies and the district’s large outlays for travel, hotels and meals tied to extracurriculars; Harris and the activities director outlined cost‑management strategies such as reducing travel through cooperative scheduling with neighboring districts. Trustees said the pool, which represents a significant facilities cost, would be discussed with the mayor and local legislators to explore shared support.

Board members expressed appreciation for staff preparing the budget under uncertainty and urged continued outreach with state partners. The board scheduled a preliminary budget discussion for May 5 and will consider final adoption at upcoming meetings.

No formal budget was adopted at the April 21 meeting; the board emphasized the item remains in development pending state guidance and revenue estimates.