School Board Work Session June 10, 2025 Audio Only
Tuesday, June 10, 2025
Legislative session update (2025)
State budget and education finance impact
Special education funding and mandates
School board virtual participation rules
Fiscal Year 2026 budget proposal
Five-year financial projection model
School district transportation contract costs
Teacher apprenticeship grant program
Earned Safe and Sick Time (ESST) policy updates
Food and Nutrition Services budget forecast
Areas of Interest (5)
- Legislature mandates $250M in special education savings via a commission, threatening future cuts if targets are missed.
- District faces 'fiscal cliff' as long-range planning shows increasing deficit spending toward 2030.
- Transportation contract costs surge by 32%, contributing to a 9.1% expenditure increase in the new budget.
- New state mandate forces school districts to implement cardiac arrest intervention plans.
- One-time state funding of $55M for compensatory aid provides short-term relief without long-term solutions.
Notable Quotes (3)
If that commission cannot come up with $250 million in savings, then in the FY2829 bianium, special education aid would be cut by a commensurate amount.
School districts are going to be required to develop a cardiac arrest intervention plan.
Operating levy is very near the statutorily imposed cap, meaning we've lost the opportunity to increase revenue in the future.
People (4)
Thomas BrooksVice ChairPresiding over the school board work session.
1 quote
Presiding over the school board work session.
“The purpose of schoolboard work session is to build trust and teamwork, to exchange information, and when applicable, to provide direction.”
Explaining the intent of the work session.
Valerie DolsonDistrict LobbyistProvided detailed analysis of the 2025 legislative session outcomes.
2 quotes
Provided detailed analysis of the 2025 legislative session outcomes.
“The legislature and the governor really kind of it it took them a long time to try to figure out how to put forward a two-year state budget.”
Discussing the legislative budget process.
“The committee couldn't find anything. You don't just take $250 million, find something else. You'll just push that into the next legislature.”
Criticizing the Blue Ribbon Commission special education savings target.
John MorsteadExecutive Director of Finance and OperationsManaging the fiscal year 2026 budget presentation and long-range planning.
1 quote
Managing the fiscal year 2026 budget presentation and long-range planning.
“This is the fiscal cliff that you will routinely hear referred to by schools.”
Discussing the long-term financial deficit.
Kelly BonusaDirector of Business ServicesDetailed the fiscal year 2026 budget adjustments and fund balance projections.
1 quote
Detailed the fiscal year 2026 budget adjustments and fund balance projections.
“There are several adjustments included in the proposed fiscal 26 budget... The percentage increase in the expenditure budget is 9.1%.”
Explaining budget variances.
Places Mentioned
Events & Meetings (4)
- June 10th, 2025: ISD279 School Board Work Session
- June 24th, 2025: Budget Approval Meeting
- November 18th, 2025: Audit Results Presentation
- February 17th, 2026: Legislative Session start