2026-2027 BUDGET INFORMATION

Superintendent Eldridge shared with the school board budget numbers. The main fund of the school is the general fund, this is used for the operations of the district (salaries, utility costs, etc). Below is information that was shared regarding estimated land valuations and the three taxing funds of the district. (General Fund, Special Building Fund, and QCPUF)

Projected land valuations for 2026-2027

Butler - $772,256,809 (+4.04%)
Saunders - $473,275,430 (+5.16%)
Seward - $117,915,844 (+ 6.25%)
TOTAL - $1,363,448,083 (+4.62%)

STATE AID

$587,773 (25-26 - $543,718)

Property Tax Authority Lid

$10,199,836 (25-26 — $8,888,363)

To increase above that amount, 70% of the board would have to vote in favor, allowing you to increase it by an additional 7%, totaling—$10,877,588 (an additional $677,752).

General Fund
$8,415,574 (-2%)
$6,776,187 tax asking - Levy 0.497178 (25-26 - 0.50729)

Special Building Fund
$2,429,437 (0%)
$1,452,492 tax asking - levy 0.106571 (25-26 - 0.110375)

Qualified Capital Purpose Undertaking Fund (QCPUF) 
$536,710 (+5%)
$222,991 tax asking - levy 0.016361 (25-26 - 0.017116)

TOTAL TAX ASKING
$8,451,670 tax asking - levy 0.620110 (25-26 - 0.634741)

SUMMER PROJECTS & CONSTRUCTION UPDATE

Information was shared with the school board that summer projects have begun and are continuing to take steps towards completion. Renovations of the Kindergarten and 1st Grade classrooms in Brainard, and the flooring replacements in Dwight have been finished. Dr. Eldridge also shared an update about the facility enhancement project.

Summer Projects

2026-2027 BOARD GOALS

Annually at the school board's work session in July, the school board works to establish new goals for the upcoming school year. These goals highlight four overarching themes. (Academic Excellence, Facility Planning, Budgeting, and Communication)

The School Board moved to adopt the goals for the 2026-2027 school year.

MOTION PASSED: 6-0 (Jisa - Aye, Kozisek - Aye, Pekarek - Aye, Smaus - Aye, Spatz - Aye, Strizek - Aye)

PAY APPLICATION NO. 3 - BOYD JONES

Superintendent Eldridge presented to the board information regarding the third payment towards the facility project. This third amount includes work that has been done on the east campus as well as west of the building in Brainard.

PAY APPLICATION NO. 3  --  $832,886.04

The school board moved to approve pay application no. 3 to Boyd Jones Construction.

MOTION PASSED: 6-0 (Jisa - Aye, Kozisek - Aye, Pekarek - Aye, Smaus - Aye, Spatz - Aye, Strizek - Aye)

BCDM ARCHITECTURE PAYMENT

Superintendent Eldridge presented to the board an invoice from BCDM Architecture for services rendered during the last month of work on the facility n

INVOICE AMOUNT -- $19,913.44

The school board moved to approve the payment BCDM Architecture.

MOTION PASSED: 6-0 (Jisa - Aye, Kozisek - Aye, Pekarek - Aye, Smaus - Aye, Spatz - Aye, Strizek - Aye)

NETWORK SWITCHES

Superintendent Eldridge presented a proposal to the school board to purchase new network switches to replace the aging switches that are currently in use. This purchase qualifies for the Federal Government's erate program, which means that this purchase is reimbursable up to 75%.

The School Board moved to approve the purchase of the new network switches at a cost of $8,630.

MOTION PASSED: 6-0 (Jisa - Aye, Kozisek - Aye, Pekarek - Aye, Smaus - Aye, Spatz - Aye, Strizek - Aye)

POLICY REVISIONS

The school board is currently conducting policy review and each of their monthly board meetings. Policies under review for this month are as follows:

5011 - Physical Examination and Visual Evaluation of Students
5012 - Testing and Assessment Program
5014 - Homeless Students
5015 - Protection of Pupil Rights
5016 - Student Records
5017 - Routine Directory Information
5018 - Parent and Guardian Involvement in Education Practices
5019 - Communicating with Parents
5020 - Rights of Custodial and Non-custodial Parents

No action was taken on these policies, as no changes were made.

2027-2028 CAPACITY NUMBERS

Annually the school district considers setting capacity numbers for their classrooms as well as the specialty programs within the school district. Programs such as Special Education and Title. 

The school board moved to adopt the capacity numbers as presented for the 2027-2028 school year.

MOTION PASSED: 6-0 (Jisa - Aye, Kozisek - Aye, Pekarek - Aye, Smaus - Aye, Spatz - Aye, Strizek - Aye)