Enrollment next school year is expected to fall by enough students to shrink the overall size of St. Paul Public Schools’ general fund budget for a second year in a row.
The district is planning for the loss of 1,877 students, a nearly 6 percent drop from this year. That would mean an $8.3 million decline in revenue, to $563.3 million.
Inflationary cost increases bring another $23 million hit to the budget.
Add in $11.3 million in cost shifts as the district tries to wean itself off federal coronavirus relief grants and the district has what it’s described as a $42.6 million “shortfall” if it were to operate everything at the same levels as this year.
HOW THEY INTEND TO CLOSE GAP
District leaders this week gave a high-level overview of how they intend to close that gap:
- $20.9 million in cuts would be made to programs and schools. The district still is compiling the effects of those reductions in funding.
- $2.9 million in savings would be found by realigning allocations for Title I (low-income) programs and schools.
- $14.2 million in general fund spending on programs and schools would be covered by federal grants from the American Rescue Plan; the district has until September 2024 to spend all of its ARP funds.
- $9.4 million would be covered by earlier COVID-19 relief grants known as ESSER II, for Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief, which must be spent by September 2023.
Meanwhile, the district will increase spending by $2.8 million for priority programs and expects an additional $2 million in inflationary cost increases in other areas.
Spending details will be made available next month before the school board votes to approve next year’s budget.
In alignment with the district’s strategic plan, spending will focus on promoting equity, positive school culture, culturally responsive instruction and college and career paths.
Separate from the regular general fund budget, $98 million in planned spending next year will be covered by COVID-19 relief grants. That will pay for, among other things, a large number of additional teachers in elementary schools and free lunches in schools that wouldn’t otherwise qualify.
BUDGET INFO MEETINGS
The school district is holding five informational meetings about its budget next week:
- Monday, in English, in a livestreamed virtual format at noon on its website and in-person at 6 p.m. at its administrative offices at 360 Colborne St.
- Tuesday, in Karen, at 6 p.m. at Washington Technology Magnet.
- Wednesday, in Spanish, at 6 p.m. at 360 Colborne St.
- Thursday, in Hmong, at 6 p.m. at 360 Colborne St.
- Friday, in Somali, at 6 p.m. at 360 Colborne St.