Clinton City Schools budget shows modest surplus; board adds counselor and anticipates capital bids

During the board's first reading of the 2026–27 budget, finance presenter Scott Ray said the administration recommends a budget that currently shows a roughly $400,000 surplus but emphasized that pending capital expenses could erode that cushion.

"I have a budgeted surplus here. You won't off A lot of people will just present always a balanced budget. I don't," Ray said, noting his preference for conservative budgeting and explaining that capital items such as upcoming roofing and rooftop unit bids for North Clinton (bids opening April 15) will be folded in once costs are known.

The administration also proposed staffing changes, including returning to a model of one full-time guidance counselor per school and adding a full-time counselor at South Clinton Elementary to restore a counselor lost after COVID-era SR funds ended. The board discussed enrollment growth at North Clinton, which has prompted adding classrooms and may require further staffing as cohorts progress.

On school psychologists, Ray said the district has an apprentice school psychologist (Samira Duncan) placed through a grant program that covers the apprenticeship and that administration hopes she will remain with the district after her apprenticeship; the budget conservatively excludes grant revenue until it is confirmed.

Ray framed revenues and expenditures as subject to timing differences caused by federal and competitive grants; he said federal program allocations are typically finalized in May or June and the district budgets conservatively until allocations are confirmed. The board approved the budget on first reading; a second reading and city council approval will be required before fiscal-year adoption.