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Custer School Board weighs using federal Title I funds to reduce preschool tuition
Summary
Administrators told the board the district’s preliminary FY27 Title I budget supports intervention staff and paraprofessionals and proposed exploring a districtwide preschool tuition reduction using a small portion of federal grant dollars; board members directed staff to pursue details and return in August.
The Custer School District 16-1 board on Tuesday discussed early FY27 budget plans and a proposal to direct a portion of federal Title I funds toward reducing preschool tuition for families.
Administrator (S6) told the board that preliminary Title I budgeting currently funds two math and reading interventionists and about 3.5 paraprofessionals, and stressed federal requirements for reporting outcomes tied to those positions. "Building Title funds are there to eliminate barriers," S6 said, arguing the district should consider whether a small districtwide set‑aside could be used for preschool tuition reduction to help families who otherwise could not afford enrollment.
Business officer (S8) described the FY27 budget as largely unchanged so far and said staff are still closing the year’s books and awaiting invoices and revenues; he told the board they would have a more concrete report in August. S8 also reported the district is holding roughly $13,000,000 in RDC funds and that a negative preschool fund balance will be closed with a general‑fund transfer of $11,763.66.
Board members pressed for more detail on eligibility rules for federal dollars and how any tuition reduction would comply with federal program rules and grant accounting. "If we're going to do it, it needs to be districtwide, not one or the other," S6 said, describing the proposal as preliminary and subject to grant‑management review.
No formal vote was taken; the board asked administration to work through compliance, scope and accounting questions and return with a recommendation at the August meeting.
