Board adopts 2026–27 budget with amendment; stadium sinkholes and possible seven-figure repair cost loom

The St. Francis Area Schools board approved the district’s 2026–27 adopted budget on a 5–0 voice vote after adding an amendment directing administration to present options to restore the district’s unassigned general fund balance toward the board’s 12% policy target by the regular meeting on Aug. 10, 2026.

At the presentation, district finance staff described planning assumptions that include an anticipated drop in average daily membership (ADM) from 4,001 to 3,968 and adjusted pupil units of 4,353.6, a forecasted $1.355 million revenue reduction versus earlier five‑year projections and line-item changes such as a $205,000 Title I estimate and placeholders for two additional FTEs and several open special‑education positions. The presenter said state changes boosted special‑education revenue by about 14% even as compensatory funding will decline by roughly 25% under a formula change.

Superintendent Anderson raised a separate but urgent cost concern: the district closed its high‑school stadium after engineers identified deteriorating underground storm‑water dry wells and sinkholes under the varsity bleachers and field. Anderson said the district undertook an immediate, temporary repair—pouring soft concrete in one dry well at an emergency cost of about $5,000–$6,000—and is evaluating follow-up work. “We were disheartened to find out that our storm water management system is deteriorating at the high school,” Anderson said. Engineering options under review could range from localized repairs to major reconstruction; preliminary estimates discussed in the meeting ranged from roughly $100,000 to more than $1 million depending on scope.

Board members expressed concern about the projected decline in the unassigned fund balance (the presenter forecast a preliminary year‑start level near 9.3% compared with the board’s 12% target). Members discussed corrective actions, the timing of the external audit and revised‑budget work in July–August, and the statutory requirement to adopt a budget by the end of June. To address that concern, the board added an amendment that the administration return with proposed options to restore the unassigned general fund balance under policy 714 at or before the Aug. 10 meeting; the amendment passed and the main motion then carried 5–0.

Votes at a glance: the board approved the 2026–27 budget with the amendment (voice vote 5–0). Earlier in the meeting the consent agenda and several labor agreements were adopted (roll-call or voice votes recorded as 5–0). The board also approved the district’s 10‑year LTFM plan and related FY2028 resolution by roll call, 5–0.

Next steps: administration will return with options to restore reserves and the facilities committee will continue evaluating stadium repair options with engineers; the district expects more precise year‑end audit figures in late July and a revised budget cycle that will reflect actual ADM and audit results.