The Little Rock School District's Community Advisory Board on Thursday endorsed a 2020-21 system budget that district leaders described as "uncharted water" and filled with "unknowns" as the result of the covid-19 pandemic.
"It's not the prettiest budget," Chief Financial Officer Kelsey Bailey told the advisory board, also saying that the district's already closely tracked finances will have to be scrutinized even more carefully this year.
Much of the uncertainty hinges on student enrollment, Superintendent Mike Poore said. The district's prekindergarten enrollment is down significantly as are the kindergarten pupil numbers. And there are as many as 400 students who are on the district's rolls -- some equipped with district computers -- who are not actually participating in instruction be it online or on-campus.
District teachers, counselors and office staff members are making calls to get those students engaged in school work, he said.
Because of covid-19, Little Rock district families have a choice about whether to send their students to classes on campus or online.
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The proposed budget anticipates $310,541,213 in local, state and federal revenue -- about $690,000 more than was projected for the just-ended school year. Actual revenue for the past year was just over $294 million -- a reflection of a $4 million drop in anticipated local tax collections and more than $10 million less in federal revenue and revenue from 2 property tax mills levied for technology and maintenance than was budgeted.
The district that started the 2019-20 school year with $23.9 million in operating fund reserves ended the year with $20 million. The district anticipates drawing on the reserves again -- partly to pay for furnishings and equipment at the new Southwest High School -- to end this school year with $14.9 million in carry-over money, Bailey said.
That's based on conservative estimates for local tax revenue, he said, also noting that overall property value in the district -- on which property taxes are based -- most recently showed a 3.25% increase.
The proposed budget will now go to Arkansas Education Secretary Johnny Key for final approval. Key acts in place of an elected school board in the state-controlled 22,000-student district.
In a letter introducing the budget proposal to Key, Poore said it "fully supports the mission of the Little Rock School District and our commitment to advancing student learning for each child and young person in every school."
The budget proposal includes an approximate 3% step increase for eligible employees for their additional year of work experience, and a $275 monthly contribution toward individual employee health insurance, Poore said.