Janesville‑Waldorf‑Pemberton board approves preliminary FY27 budget, signs contracts and shared‑service agreements

The Janesville‑Waldorf‑Pemberton School Board approved its preliminary fiscal year 2026–27 budget and several business items, voting 5–0 on each motion after a lengthy presentation and questions about future shortfalls and staffing.

Treasurer Wendy presented financial assumptions and current figures, saying the district’s adjusted daily membership (ADM) after the state edit is "589.42," and that the general fund is projected to end the year well below the board’s 25 percent fund‑balance goal (the treasurer’s projection showed about 6.61 percent under current assumptions). Wendy also outlined the state’s proposed amendment to the Minnesota Constitution concerning the permanent school fund—she said the trust is about $2.3 billion now and illustrated that, under the task force recommendations, per‑pupil distributions could increase from roughly $68 to about $96, an illustrative increase that would add roughly $16,000 in revenue to the district under the treasurer’s example calculations if enrollment and other variables hold.

Board members pressed staff on the budget’s sensitivity to future years, noting a widening shortfall in multi‑year projections. One board member said the district must avoid relying on optimistic assumptions and urged proactive, phased adjustments rather than abrupt cuts later. Staff acknowledged the risk, saying the preliminary budget was prepared without assuming renewal of one‑time grants the district lost this year (the district previously received MTSS funding but was not awarded it for 2026–27).

In addition to the budget vote, the board approved several business items: a resolution accepting donations (including $2,000 from the Janesville Area of Comrades for scholarships and a $32,943 donation from the library system for nominee books), a shared‑services agreement for ECSE staffing with a neighboring district, the ARC FY27 support contract for Infinite Campus services, and a shared‑services agreement covering a certified occupational therapy assistant (cost‑share: district 40 percent, partner 60 percent). Each motion passed by a 5–0 voice vote.

The board also designated Jeremy Earler as the district’s identified official for education identity access management (a roll call vote recorded as yes from each member present). The meeting adjourned at about 6:12 p.m.; the board will finalize budgets and related reporting in the coming months as state ADM figures are finalized and as negotiations and revised projections are prepared.

Votes at a glance: • Preliminary FY27 budget: Motion by Laura Size; second by Joanie Olsen; vote 5–0 to approve (motion carried). • Resolution accepting donations: Motion by Joanie Olsen; second by Laura Size; vote 5–0 to approve (motion carried). • ECSE shared‑services agreement: Motion by Kevin Bourne; second by Laura Size; vote 5–0 to approve (motion carried). • ARC FY27 support contract (Infinite Campus): Motion by Laura Size; second by Kevin Bourne; vote 5–0 to approve (motion carried). • Shared occupational therapy agreement (certified OTA): Motion by Laura Size; second by Joanie Olsen; vote 5–0 to approve (motion carried). • Designation of district identified official (Jeremy Earler): Motion by Kevin Bourne; second by Laura Size; roll call vote recorded yes from Cahill, Size, Olsen, Bourne, and Sherry; vote 5–0 (motion carried).

What happens next: the preliminary budget must be filed before the end of the fiscal reporting period; staff will return to the board with revised budget figures as state ADM is finalized and as enrollment and grant outcomes become clearer.