SBPS Board of Education to Hold Special Meeting to Consider the Future of Lake Minatare Elementary
SBPS Board of Education to Hold Special Meeting to Consider the Future of Lake Minatare Elementary
At a Special Board Meeting on January 5th, the Board of Education will receive an update on Lake Minatare Elementary and have a discussion with possible action taken in regards to the status of the school for the 2026-27 school year. As of October 1, Lake Minatare served 65 students, and the District has the capacity to serve all 65 students at one of the four in-town elementary schools. Financial projections indicate that the District would save over $750,000 in annual, ongoing expenses while retaining 100% of the Lake Minatare staff. Staff would be moved into open positions made available through routine retirements or resignations while the overall staff count is reduced.
The need to consider this is largely due to the School District Property Tax Limitation Act, passed in 2023, which significantly changes how school districts are funded. The 3% soft cap on revenue growth for public school districts limits the amount of revenue a school district can receive from its funding sources, such as state aid and local property taxes, regardless of the valuation of the property being taxed or whether the revenue comes from property taxes or other sources. With approximately 70% of the District's overall budget being allocated to staffing expenses (wages and benefits), negotiated increases for staff paired with rising expenses for items such as transportation, utilities, insurance, curriculum, and technology, it is safe to assume SBPS may be forced to make budget reductions every year. This has created a need for the District to consolidate operations.
On Wednesday, December 10th, a letter was sent to families of all current Lake Minatare students informing them of this meeting. The meeting has been scheduled for January 5th at 6PM at the SHS Boardroom.