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April 3, 2024:

• • The board held a budget work session; find the materials here.

  • The district’s 2024-25 budget proposal closes a $104-$111 million budget deficit. In an update from the March board meeting, the district made two changes:

    • Proposed a $36.8 million interfund loan (from Capital Budget to Operating Budget) to help bridge 2024-25 budget gap. This loan must be repaid in full by June 30, 2026 and it is unclear what revenues SPS will identify to use to repay this loan.

    • Based on feedback from the Board, school leaders, and staff participants in the school staffing process, the district proposes to: restore discretionary equity funding in schools allocations for non-staff allocation, which is approximately $1.3 million. 

    • To finalize the 2024-25 budget, there will be a public hearing on June 10th, and the Board will vote on the budget on July 2. However, the Board will need to approve the interfund loan prior to June 30th.

  • SPS unveiled the elements of what it described as part of a Well-Resourced School at the Elementary School Level:

    • Multiple teachers per grade level

    • Full-time support staff

    • Inclusive learning for EVERY student

    • Social and emotional learning support

    • Art, Music, and PE teachers

    • Stable operational budgets

    • Safe, healthy, and beautiful schools and grounds

    • Connections to the community

  • Strategic Plan. SPS needs to update its Strategic Plan, as the 2019-2024 one is expiring. This next plan will set the goals and priorities for SPS from 2025-2030. In the April 3rd Board meeting, Board President Rankin proposed that community engagement related to this plan will occur from mid-April through mid-June, and that the Board will hold a one-day work session to finalize it. No information on these sessions have been provided yet to the general public.

  • The board did not conduct progress monitoring for its College & Career Readiness goals; find the materials in this folder.

March 20, 2024:

• The board held a 90-minute budget work session; find the materials here. 

• Read our detailed budget updates on this page.

In January 2024:

• The board held a 90-minute budget work session; find the materials here. SPS has also updated its budget development website. Take a look. 

• District staff shared ideas on how the district can balance its 2024-25 budget. Discussed were ideas that have significant student-facing changes, like moving to three-tier bell schedule, program adjustments and restructuring (such as K-8 and option schools), grade level reorganizations (such as moving 6th grade to some elementary schools), school closures and consolidations, as well as the lease or sale of non-school properties and delayed repayment of the Economic Restabilization Plan (rainy-day fund). 

• Staff also shared that there will be Phase II Well-Resources School meetings, but did not provide details.

In November & December 2023:

• The board voted to approve the financial policy as introduced, which did not include Director Song’s proposed amendments. While this was disappointing for many of us, there will likely be opportunities for community voice as the policy elements are implemented. 

• The board approved a budget resolution that will determine the process by which next year’s school budget will be developed. It is called the Fiscal Stabilization Plan to Create a System of Well-Resourced Schools.

• District staff presented a summary of the Well-Resourced Schools meetings that occurred this past summer and early fall. You can see these results here (starts on page 9).