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Trustees approve tentative FY27 budget, preserve kindergarten learning‑assistant positions and staff stipends
Summary
The board unanimously approved the FY27 tentative budget, including preserving kindergarten early‑learning assistant positions for one year using fund balance as a backstop and including $3.6M for certified staff one‑time stipends. Staff reported a limited state reimbursement for I‑Ready assessments (~$100k) and recommended textbook funding options.
The Washoe County School District board approved the tentative fiscal year 2026–27 budget on April 14, 2026, voting unanimously after staff briefings on revenue updates and budget decisions.
Chief Financial Officer Mark Mats and Deputy Chief of Finance Jeff Bzos updated trustees on two budget matters staff had recently clarified: (1) the Nevada Department of Education will reimburse approximately $6.40 per K–3 student for specified reading assessment components of the district’s I‑Ready contract, producing roughly $100,000 in reimbursement but not covering math assessments or interventions for higher grades; and (2) recent property‑tax distributions were slightly higher than projected, which created capacity to fund textbook purchases from capital project funds rather than the general fund for FY27 (staff flagged this as a capital‑funding question the board may revisit in the CIP discussion). Mats and Bzos cautioned that textbook capital funding does not come from WC1 sales tax proceeds and that bond counsel supports using property‑tax‑backed rollover funds for equipment purchases such as textbooks.
The board also considered staffing stability in kindergarten classrooms: staff recommended preserving all kindergarten learning assistant positions for FY27 by using fund balance as a temporary backstop if a pending grant application does not fully fund those roles. Trustees heard that this approach would allow the district to avoid bumping aides among schools while the grant award is being determined. Trustees also reviewed a $3.6 million one‑time stipend package for certified staff negotiated in the recent employee agreement (estimated at $1,000 per eligible employee) and other contingency planning for enrollment and fuel‑price risk.
Trustee Smith moved to approve the tentative FY27 budget with the preservation of early learning assistant positions for FY27 and shifting certain behavior technician positions to the federal IDEA special‑education fund; Trustee Nichollet seconded. The motion carried unanimously by voice vote.
Staff said they will update the final budget if the grant award for kindergarten assistance arrives; otherwise, the fund‑balance backstop will be used for one year.
