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Sun Prairie board hears budget draft; administrators say referendum funds and temporary transfers will cover Title I shortfall for one year
Summary
Board members pressed administrators about a federal Title I funding shortfall in the 2026–27 budget draft. Administration said they are holding staffing flat for one year using Fund 10 and will rely on phased referendum dollars and further budgeting discussions to resolve longer‑term gaps.
The board discussed the first draft of the 2026–27 budget and raised concerns about a federal funding shortfall affecting Title I allocations. Director of business and finance Matt Clark was not present (paternity leave); administrators summarized the screencast and answered board questions.
Board member Isaac asked how the district planned to protect staffing at Title I schools given the possible federal reduction. Administration said senior budget leaders decided to hold staffing steady for the coming year by using Fund 10 to balance the gap — a solution described as temporary because it does not provide ongoing revenue to match recurring expenditures.
Administrators noted the district has phased referendum revenues remaining (about $3.3 million from a 2024 operating referendum earmarked for educational programming and staff compensation) that will phase in over several years and could be allocated to cover priorities. The board also discussed planned one‑time major expenses (approximately $2 million total for high‑cost curriculum adoptions above the district’s $250,000 reporting threshold) and the need to respect federal rules on supplement vs. supplant and maintenance‑of‑effort requirements for special education (Fund 27).
Board members requested more detail on the proportion of unpaid lunch accounts recovered through the nutrition department’s third‑party letter service, on the projected long‑term impact of vouchers and independent charter growth on the operating budget, and on precise timing of when referendum funds will be fully available. Administration said it would provide additional details at future public hearings and that a live budget hearing will be scheduled in late July.
