SANB board hears draft 2025–26 budget and $300,000 in proposed reductions

Superintendent Renee Corneille and Executive Director of Academics Hope Fagerland presented the district’s draft 2025–26 budget at the May 6 school board meeting, anchoring revenue assumptions on 1,840 adjusted daily membership (ADM) and a projected basic general education allowance of $7,480.50 per pupil.

The administration outlined recommended reductions totaling $300,000 to help balance the general fund. The package shown to the board included: $175,000 taken from District‑wide Effective Instruction work (Component 4), elimination or reduction of the superintendent’s executive assistant position ($40,000), a reduction of CESO SIS hours ($22,500), a one‑time $52,700 reduction to the planned World Savvy contract, and a proposed 5% increase in athletics/activity fees projected to raise $9,800.

Administrators walked the board through the budget assumptions — including basic state aid, an operating referendum estimate of $5,743,810, and continued federal and special education aid — and a multi‑appendix packet detailing Components 1–4 (building staffing, planned program staffing, ancillary programs, district‑wide services). The packet notes projected FY2026 general fund revenue of $26.62 million and proposed general fund expenditures of $26.72 million, producing an estimated deficit near $(97,284) in the draft.

Board members asked for clarifying detail on what a $175,000 reduction to Effective Instruction would mean for coaching and teacher supports; administration said the $175,000 figure reflects Component 4 operating funds and that no cuts to core classroom staffing (Components 1 and 2) were proposed. The discussion did not record a formal vote to adopt the budget; the draft will return to the board for further review before any adoption vote.