Superintendent: budget passed with highest rate in a decade; state UPK funding and bus rules change

Superintendent remarks at the May 20 meeting framed the recently approved 2026 budget as the district's "favorite event," noting it passed at the highest rate in more than a decade: "To have 70 a 72% positive pass rate in our district is really incredible," he said. He thanked staff who worked on budgeting and said the district started the process in December.

The superintendent summarized state-level developments he said had "leaked out" that day: foundation aid for the district would increase from a projected 1% to 2%; universal pre-K per-pupil aid would move from about $5,700 to $10,000 per pre-K student, and the state will aim to provide a pre-K seat for any 4-year-old who wants one by later years referenced in the transcript. He also said a bill delays the deadlines for school districts to begin purchasing only zero-emission buses and to use only zero-emission buses by five years—pushing the purchase deadline to 07/01/2032 and the full-use transition to 07/01/2040— which he described as a "common-sense approach" given the challenges involved.

During the report a board member asked where the increased UPK money must be spent; the superintendent and business official said they did not yet have all details but noted existing UPK expansion grants (which the district participated in) were already using about $10,000 per pupil in the expansion budget, largely for salaries, supplies and contractual costs.

"I went to bed wondering if I was gonna have to find $420,000 the next day," the superintendent said, describing the budget uncertainty during development; he then praised staff for managing the process and celebrated the vote outcome.

The superintendent said he would share additional state-level details as they become available.