Several issues are coming together at one time to force officials at school districts around the region to begin considering cost-cutting measures now and for the coming school year.
Following a letter sent to parents of Sidney Public School students noting a funding shortfall that has their Board of Education considering several cost-saving measures, especially for the 2024-25 school year, KNEB News surveyed districts in Scotts Bluff County, and found many of the same issues locally.
Reductions in state aid, due in part to falling enrollment, and an end to pandemic-era funding were a common theme disclosed by the district superintendents surveyed.
At Scottsbluff Public Schools, Dr. Andrew Dick said they’re anticipating a need to reduce spending by $1.8 million for the 24-25 school year, of which $543,000 had been covered through ESSER III funding from the federal government, which is ending.
He ccontinued that SBPS is currently projected to have a small decrease in state aid, which may still change as state aid is going to have to be recertified. The reduction of $1.8 million is attributed to ESSER funds coming to an end, a decrease in student enrollment of 73 students from the prior year, and the recently imposed revenue cap.
Officials at many other districts in the county echoed similar concerns. Rocky Robbins with Minatare Public Schools told us in addition, all districts are having to address the competitive job market caused in part by a significant teacher shortage, as well as salary issues tied to rising inflation. Staff and related academic programming account for a large majority of annual expenditures at each district, reported as high as 80 percent.
At Sidney, the cost-cutting options presented to parents in the Feb. 23 letter included a continual decrease of discretionary and administrative expenses, streamlining district support systems, adjusting staffing levels, and even the potential closure of North Elementary. At Morrill Public Schools, the Board of Education will hold a special meeting Monday, March 4, to consider a potential reduction-in-force to address what was reported to be a $900,000 shortfall.
Superintendent Dr. Nicole Regan noted Gering Public Schools had been tightening budgets since she started with the district, and is also facing the issues of rising property valuations, inflation and the end of ESSER funding. Regan noted she has serious concerns about forecasting the budget for the coming school year, especially if state lawmakers approve proposed legislation that would remove a school board’s ability to exceed the 3 percent soft cap on budget spending increases through a super-majority vote.
Mitchell Public Schools Superintendent Kathy Urbanek said while MPS has not operated in a deficit, the district has often had to forego some of the purchases or projects other districts have done. However, she also said “with loss in state aid in the years to come and taxing limits, we will be forced to tighten up our budget even more.”
