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School board approves FY2027 budget and spring 2026 capital bond projects
Summary
The Sumter school board adopted the second and final reading of its FY2027 budget and approved a $5,000,577.30 package of spring 2026 capital bond projects after presentations from the superintendent and chief financial officer and questions about staffing, facilities and track work at Sumter High.
The Sumter school board voted June 22 to adopt the second and final reading of the fiscal year 2027 budget and to approve recommended spring 2026 capital bond projects following a presentation by Chief Financial Officer Tika Spearman.
Spearman, who presented the budget for final approval, said the administration identified $1.6 million in savings from unfilled vacancies and outlined proposed increases that include a $4 million certified teacher salary allocation, a 2% increase for bus drivers (about $65,000), a $750,000 security increase, $675,000 for technology licensing and a $1 million summer school budget. "The total additional expenditures for FY '27 is $8,040,968 expected," Spearman said during her presentation.
On capital work, the district presented a spring 2026 bond package described by administration as about $5,000,577.30 to fund districtwide needs including public-address systems, painting, flooring, roof repairs and presentation systems, plus student and staff devices. The board heard questions about whether staff desktops could be replaced with docking stations tied to teacher laptops as a cost-saving alternative; the district's technology representative said classrooms also rely on fixed desktops and active panels for instruction and that all teachers retain assigned laptops.
Board members pressed administration on facility priorities and the status of athletic-track projects at high schools. Administration said Lakewood's track is nearly complete but Sumter High's track has not been finished and may require additional funding; the board requested a follow-up status and estimated next steps for unresolved items.
After discussion the board approved the capital bond package and the FY2027 budget in separate motions and votes during the meeting. The record does not include a detailed roll-call vote tally for either approval; meeting minutes should be consulted for final vote totals.
What happens next: administration said it will provide more detailed project breakdowns and status updates to the board, including clarification on outstanding track work and any additional funding needs.
