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Board presses staff on budget priorities as SRO grant nears sunset
Summary
Board members said capital phase three and stabilizing health-insurance premiums are top budget priorities; members flagged a likely SRO funding sunset in 2026–27 and asked staff to check the timeline and advocate with the General Assembly if needed.
Franklin County School Board members on Nov. 10 discussed the district’s budget priorities for the coming year, stressing capital projects and insurance stability while flagging an expiring school-resource-officer (SRO) grant.
Mrs. Tuttle told the board staff have not received the LCI (Local Composite Index) update and asked for direction on priorities. "Phase three still remains a top priority for us," she said, and also named stabilizing health-insurance premiums as a major concern. Board members raised additional requests that could inform the budget, including reading specialists, an athletics-and-activities coordinator, expanded kindergarten support to address behavior, and gifted-program resources.
Board members also questioned the status of SRO funding. Discussion suggested the state-funded SRO grant is winding down and may sunset in the 2026–27 school year. A board member said, "I believe this is the last year of that grant, but I'm not positive." Mrs. Tuttle agreed to research the timeline and report back; members noted Delegate Davis should advocate for continued state funding where possible.
Enrollment figures were reported later in the meeting: membership fell by 12 students compared with October (from 5,804 to 5,792) but remains above the division’s budgeted enrollment projection.
Staff will continue developing the budget through the winter and return with additional detail, including possible impacts if SRO funding is not renewed and refinement of cost estimates for requested staffing and program additions.
