Budget discussion for Cd'A School Board continues today

The budget discussion will continue at 4 p.m. today when trustees of the Coeur d'Alene School District hold a workshop at Midtown Meeting Center, 1505 N. Fifth St., Coeur d'Alene.

The district is in the midst of finding solutions to address a projected $6 million shortfall in the 2025 fiscal year. Among potential options to balance the budget are moving to a four-day school week, closing an elementary school, larger class sizes, staff cuts and building budget reductions.

“We’re trying to keep furthest away from the classroom and we’re trying to keep the furthest impact away from our strategic plan and our student achievement goals," Coeur d'Alene School District's Director of Finance Shannon Johnston said Jan. 22 during a special meeting. "But our business is educating students, so they will have an impact to our students and none of these are easy.”

A decrease in enrollment, unexpected expenditures and a return to the average daily attendance funding formula across the state are factors in the projected shortfall. Special education costs were $1 million more than expected. Enrollment is down 462 students for fiscal year 2024, while a decrease of 340 students is expected in fiscal year ’25.

“We have $4 million less in state revenue because of enrollment,” Johnston said at the Jan. 22 meeting. “With the $2 million in expenditures that we have to address, that creates the $6 million budget shortfall if we don’t do anything. But we will adopt a balanced budget.”

The agenda also includes a bid approval for secure entrances at Ramsey Magnet School of Science and Dalton Elementary School as well as a dual credit program agreement with North Idaho College.

Info: cdaschools.org