District projects 1,063 basic‑ed FTE for 2026–27; capital fund driven by bond work

Finance director Mr. Field presented April enrollment and March financials, explaining the district's budgeting methodology for basic-education full-time-equivalent (FTE) students and year-to-date expenditures.

Mr. Field said the district is budgeting 1,063 basic-ed FTE for 2026–27 after comparing straight roll-forward, three-year averages and cohort survival methods; he said that figure could be roughly 60 students fewer than this year depending on methodology and carryover assumptions. The board discussed enrollment drivers, noting that some increases came from transfers from local private schools.

On finances, Mr. Field reported that the capital fund balance shows roughly $10,000,000 in expenditures tied largely to ongoing bond construction for the two sites and that current-year encumbrances and spending are tracking below last year's peak. He said district payroll and new hires explain a portion of higher year-to-date expenditures compared with past years.

Trustees also discussed transportation and bus procurement. Mr. Field said a diesel bus costs about $240,000 while an electric bus approaches $600,000; grants often cover the incremental cost but the district must first upgrade electrical service at the transportation facility (potentially adding a second meter) before adding electric buses. He said the transportation building is at the end of the above-ground power line, complicating additional service and power draws.

Board members welcomed the conservative budgeting approach and noted the district's sizable fund balance, which the auditors prefer to see expressed as days of operation rather than a straight percentage of budget.

The board did not change any budget assumptions at the meeting; Mr. Field said he will continue refining projections during budget season.