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Kickapoo Area School District board approves preliminary 2026–27 budget, handbook updates and fee schedule
Summary
At its July 8 meeting the Kickapoo Area School District board approved the district's preliminary 2026–27 budget, adopted revisions to the employee handbook, and approved updated district fees including pool rental language; insurers' deductible options were tabled for later review.
The Kickapoo Area School District board on July 8 approved the district's preliminary 2026–27 budget, adopted changes to the employee handbook and accepted a revised fee schedule for school services, including clarified pool rental language.
Board Chair (S1) opened the meeting and the board voted to approve the proposed preliminary budget for publication. District administrator Kimberly Johnson (S4) told the board the budget presented last month showed no major changes and warned that rising special-education needs are outpacing categorical aid, saying the aid "does not reimburse, to the extent, of those growing needs." She also said a proposed plan to use Griffin funds to pay down pool debt was moved back for further consideration before any transfers are made.
The board also reviewed and approved a package of employee handbook edits. Johnson summarized the changes that were adopted: an added organizational chart; clarified absence and job-abandonment procedures (including potential disciplinary action for failure to report or call in for two consecutive days); a requirement that employees may be asked for a medical excuse after three or more consecutive days; a vacation-rollover policy permitting up to five days to carry to the next year to be used by December in certain circumstances; and a prorated payout of earned vacation on termination. Extracurricular pay remained subject to collective-bargaining outcomes and the salary schedule was noted as "subject to change after our negotiations," Johnson said.
The board approved revisions to district fees and food pricing. Johnson recommended a 10% increase for lunch prices and a raise in the additional milk charge from $0.45 to $0.50. The board adopted clarified language for private pool rentals: a $100 hourly rental (the district's in-district rate) that includes one hour of pool time, two hours of multipurpose-room use (overlapping with pool time), two lifeguards, four 8-foot tables and 20 chairs; the 2024 record showed 13 rentals with $2,390 collected, producing a small net return. Board members discussed lifeguard minimums, staffing and whether the rental fee sufficiently covers overhead; Johnson and the board agreed the clarified wording from Kim's 2024 language should be used.
Motions on the budget, handbook edits and the fees were made, seconded and approved by voice vote; specific vote tallies were not recorded in the meeting transcript.
The board indicated items that require follow-up: further review of Fund 21 options related to pool debt and additional clarity on the handbook's vacation-rollover operational details. The district will publish the preliminary budget as required and staff will return with additional information where requested.
