Spring Lake Park Schools board approves FY26 revised budget and proposed FY27 budget, submits long-term facilities plan

The Spring Lake Park Schools board approved a revised fiscal year 2025–26 budget and the district’s proposed 2026–27 budget during its June meeting, and voted to submit a long-term facilities maintenance application to the Minnesota Department of Education.

The board voted to approve the fiscal year 2025–26 revised budget after a presentation from Amy Schultz, executive director of business services, who told the board the revisions were limited to the general fund, including an approximate $750,000 revenue increase and a $500,000 increase in expenditures tied to projects expected to finish by the end of June. The motion to approve the revised budget was moved by Forsber and seconded by Mcclullen and passed on a voice vote.

Shortly afterward the board approved the proposed fiscal year 2026–27 budget as presented. Schultz and other administrators reviewed assumptions underpinning the proposal, including an average daily enrollment projection of 5,873 students (a net decline of 35 students from the current estimate), a $21 per-student increase in the general education allowance (a 2.69% increase applied to that allowance), and continued reliance on state aids. Board members were told the district’s general-fund revenue is expected to be about $99 million across funds and that compensation remains the largest expenditure category. The motion to approve the proposed 2026–27 budget was seconded by Schmidt and passed by voice vote.

The board also approved submission of the fiscal year 2028 long-term facilities maintenance plan to the Minnesota Department of Education. Administration clarified the 10-year plan is a state submission step and does not itself change the district’s immediate budget; any levy or budgetary impact would come later if the board and voters authorize funding. The motion to submit the application was moved by Scully, seconded by Hennon, and approved by voice vote.

In related business the board approved the district’s updated Q Comp (quality compensation) memorandum of understanding with the teachers’ association after Dr. Hope summarized program components—teacher leadership roles, job-embedded professional learning, teacher evaluation framed as learning, and performance pay. Administration reported teachers ratified the agreement 187–0; the board approved the memorandum by voice vote.

The board adopted a resolution accepting gifts to the district under board policy 706 and Minnesota Statute 465.03; the clerk recorded the roll call and the resolution passed 7–0. The board also certified the district population estimate used for levy calculations (the motion quoted a figure of 38,082) and that resolution likewise passed 7–0 on the recorded roll call.

Votes at a glance: • Approve FY25–26 revised budget — Mover: Forsber; Second: Mcclullen; Outcome: approved (voice vote). • Approve FY26–27 proposed budget — Mover: not specified in transcript; Second: Schmidt; Outcome: approved (voice vote). • Submit FY28 long-term facilities maintenance application to Minnesota Department of Education — Mover: Scully; Second: Hennon; Outcome: approved (voice vote). • Approve updated Q Comp memorandum of understanding — Mover/Second: not specified; Outcome: approved (voice vote); teachers ratified 187–0 prior to board action. • Accept gifts to the district (policy 706 / Minn. Stat. 465.03) — Outcome: approved 7–0 (roll call). • Certify population estimate for 2026 payable 2027 levy (figure cited: 38,082) — Outcome: approved 7–0 (roll call).

What it means: Board members and administration said the district’s levy passage in November contributed to budget stability and that long-term planning—both five-year forecasting and the 10-year facilities plan—guides decisions. Administrators emphasized that the facilities plan submission is informational to the state and does not itself spend funds.

The board took no action that would immediately change tax levies during the meeting; next procedural steps include formal state processing for the facilities plan and implementation of the approved budgets on the district’s fiscal calendar.