Willow school board passes ‘worst case scenario' budget

The Willow Springs School District is moving into fiscal year 2027 with a budget that prepares for the worst while hoping for the best. Prepared by the district’s independent financial consultant Kelly Lowe, this budget conservatively estimates revenues and aggressively plans for expenses. 

 

“If it happens the way we’re saying,” Lowe told the school board May 11, “It’s going to be a deficit spending of $35,000. That’s worst-case scenario. You build in a pocket for gains.”

 

The upcoming year’s budget projects $13.5 million in revenues, which is $2.2 million less than last year’s budget.  The biggest cut is the biggest slice of pie in any school district’s spending – salaries. Salary spending has decreased by $2 million for the upcoming school year, and it remains 73 percent of the overall budget. 

 

Information on exactly how many jobs were cut, and from which buildings, was not available by press time. 

 

Lowe was clear that he does not expect the district to deficit spend next year. Expenses have been overestimated and revenues have been projected conservatively. The hope is conservative spending and unanticipated revenues will begin to build up reserves again.

 

Also in this meeting, the board came to a consensus, without passing a motion, to agree that MonArk Realty, of Willow Springs, will handle the sale of the school board building at the corner of Main and Ferguson with a recommended list price of $249,000. Profit from the sale will go into Fund 4 towards reserves.

 

In spending decisions, the board approved the same salary step schedule as last year. They also reviewed and approved the proposals for a Bluebird bus, the second the district will purchase this year. One bus was a budgeted expense, and the other purchase replaces the bus that crashed in Texas County this year. Insurance will pay $97,000 towards replacing the totaled bus, the board heard, and $47,000 will come from the school’s funds from insurance proceeds.

 

“It’s all claim money. It’s not just coming from the one accident,” Lowe told the board. 

 

The board approved the current providers for physical therapy, occupational therapy, and applied behavior services. They did solicit bids for these services, with Special Education Administrator noting these services are a requirement for the district to provide, but the demand within the district does not indicate a full-time employee. 

 

On May 14, the board met in special session to approve the list of summer school teachers. They did so with a unanimous vote. Also unanimously, the board approved two new teachers: Jennifer Crowl for special ed and Emma Johns at the high school. 

 

In other information: 

-The balance of all funds as of May 11 was $2,835,274.46. In April, the balance was $2,920,751.30, and the balance one year ago was $2,542,950.81.

 

In personnel changes from May 11:

-Certified new hires approved were Dustin Tinsley, high school, Joey Barbrow special ed teacher, and April Earls middle school teacher.  

-Cadee Rutledge was approved as a part-time speech language pathologist, a non-certified position. 

-Alicen Haugsted was reassigned to bookkeeper. 

-Resignations accepted:  Nancy Jackson Bean, special ed, Amy Bunch Schmitt, middle school teacher, and Jaime Bryan, bookkeeper.