November 7, 2025 at 8:00 AM - Budget Committee

Description:  A motion will be necessary to approve the agenda as presented (or) with changes as recommended.

Description:  Individuals may use this time to comment on any items listed as part of the meeting agenda. A copy of Board Policy 187 —Public Participation at Board Meetings is enclosed for your reference. Past practice has allowed 30 minutes for this section of the agenda.

Description: 

Administration will update the committee on the process of completing the 2025-2026 budget process. Attached please find the presentation that was shared at the special board meeting for approving the budget and tax levy.

Administration will provide an update on the progress and utilization of the McKinney-Vento vehicles and will present a request for the lease of a third vehicle to support program needs.

Description:  The administration is beginning the process to prepare 2026–2027 budget scenarios. The attached document compares a base scenario with multiple scenarios for a 4K program. The base scenario includes the following:
1. A more conservative enrollment projection
2. Utilizing the November 2024 operational referendum funds
3. Increased revenues for high-cost special ed aid and state categorical aid due to the state budget changes
4. Increased revenues for open enrollment students 
5. Increased expenses for the classified staff average pay catch up per the approved operational referendum
6. Increased expenses for annual pay increases (3% CPI + 2% compensation systems), utilities (added Middle School), transportation (5%), contingency (added 100K), maintenance (added back in NAMI contract) 
7. Added 3 FTE for the use of existing Middle School/New Middle School

Each of the 4K scenarios changes the base scenario and the major financial impacts are described in the charts. Administration will review each scenario with the budget committee and will be seeking feedback. 
The November board meeting will be an opportunity to discuss this topic and Administration will be requesting a decision in December to allow communication with the community and 4K centers. 

Description:  The budget committee requested an update on the district contract with Data Wrangler. Attached please find a report from Data Wrangler that we will review at the meeting. In addition, the committee asked for clarification on the savings given the move of Heritage Elementary School to a new site.
Here is the response from Data Wrangler. 
"Our reported savings is only from savings actions taken at the new Heritage building.   All program savings reported is from savings actions taken on all existing metered buildings.   Should the board want a comparison of old vs. new heritage,  let us know,  we would need to get the old electric bills from the school district to perform this comparison."
In addition, the budget committee requested a review of our natural gas purchasing program. Attached please find a review shared by our vendor. Adminstration will be requesting a recommendation for the December 1, 2025 to April/May 2026 timeframe.