The Board of Education for the Fayette school district approved a $6.7 million budget for fiscal year 2022-23 at its regular monthly meeting on Wednesday, June 22. This new budget factors in a $2.8 million increase in property valuation in 2021, and includes additional expenditures for teachers funded by a state grant program.

The estimated operating expenses of $6,727,517 and revenues of $6,990,968 in the FY’23 school year will mean a projected fund balance of 47.72%, well above the board’s goal of 25%. Like most other schools around the nation, Fayette benefited financially during the COVID-19 pandemic under massive spending by the federal government.

In addition to the operating expenditures of $6,727,517, the capital expenditures are anticipated to be $1,347,922. That is largely due to the ongoing district-wide HVAC improvement project that began under the previous fiscal year’s budget when the district received ARP ESSER (American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief ) funding.

“The district continues to find itself in a stable financial position,” said outgoing superintendent Jill Wiseman in her budget message to the board.

Anticipated revenues for the 2022-23 fiscal year total $7,629,235. Of that total, $2,356,924, about 31% of the district’s total revenue, will come from state funding. The district expects to receive $4,095,975 from local taxes, which is just over half of anticipated revenues. This includes property taxes and a 1% statewide education sales tax that is distributed to Missouri schools based on the weighted average daily attendance count for the prior year. The enrollment for the prior school year increased from 627 to 656 students during the 2021-22 fiscal year. Federal funding makes up just 10% of district revenue for the next fiscal year, estimated to be $765,336. The district also expects $400,000 from county revenues and $11,000 from taxes from other counties whose students attend the Fayette district.

Salaries and benefits account for 60.66% of the district’s budget, with certified salaries accounting for 36.73% of the total expenditures, according to Mrs. Wiseman’s budget message. Benefits include retirement contributions, social security taxes, Medicare, and health insurance, among other items.

Teachers across the district will receive a pay increase this year. Governor Mike Parson is expected to sign House Bill 3002 which increases the base pay for teachers in Missouri from $25,000 to $38,000 through a matching grant program. The program will pay 70% of the increase, with districts picking up the other 30%. This budget also included a salary schedule with an increase for teachers already making more than $38,000. The cost to the Fayette district is expected to be $112,672 above what it paid for salaries a year ago. The program has only been approved for one year by the legislature.

In other business, the board approved meal prices for the district. For the last two years, all meals have been free to every student in the district, paid for by pandemic relief funds. The district will return to charging for meals once again, with prices returning to pre-pandemic levels. The regular cost for breakfast will $2, lunch $2.50, and milk 75 cents. Prices for students on the reduced meal plan will cost 30 cents for breakfast, 40 cents for lunch, and 75 cents for milk.

The board also approved an increase to substitute teacher pay from $75 to $90 per day, and from $105 to $120 per day for long-term subs. The increases make the rates comparable to other nearby school districts. The hikes are expected to cost Fayette around $12,000 more than that of a year ago.

Board members also gave unanimous approval to add a new middle school elective class. Eighth graders may now take a Game Theory class, in which they will study why people make decisions, especially in competitive situations.

Former school board president Gary Gose was named to the Vocational Agriculture Program Advisory Board. He joins Logan Chrislaw, Christine Fuhlage, Fred Weiker, Chris Rohlfing, Bruce Addison, Gale Schafer, Jean Schmidt, and Ben Potter.

The board also conducted lengthy discussions regarding its mobile phone policies. Because the matter was not already on the agenda, no action was taken. However, it is expected the board will revisit the matter at an upcoming meeting.

The Board of Education meets regularly at 6:30 p.m. on the third Wednesday of every month except for July. The next meeting is scheduled to take place on August 17 in the administration building. Meetings are open and the public is invited.