School District outlines $130M budget, addresses funding gaps and staffing concerns

The Hopkins School Board meeting held on May 20, 2025, focused on the district's budgetary challenges and staffing concerns for the upcoming fiscal year. The meeting began with a detailed presentation on the district's total expenditures, which amount to $130,575,130. This budget includes approximately $72.3 million allocated for salaries and wages, making up 55% of the total budget, while benefits account for about 23% at $30.3 million. Other significant expenditures include purchased services at $20.3 million, supplies at $3.8 million, and capital expenditures at $2 million.

A key point of discussion was the increasing gap between state funding and the district's financial needs, which has grown to nearly 19%. The district is actively lobbying for increases in categorical revenues to address these budgetary challenges, particularly in light of rising inflation.

The presentation also highlighted various strategies the district is implementing to balance the budget. These include restructuring transportation operations, leveraging restricted resources for school safety, and reallocating funds from community education and nutrition services back into the general fund. Additionally, adjustments to the substitute model and staffing allocations were discussed, with an emphasis on maintaining reasonable class sizes while addressing budget constraints.

Board members raised concerns regarding the impact of Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) round downs on staffing, particularly at the elementary level. Discussions revealed that building leaders are prioritizing class size reduction, which may limit the availability of discretionary funds for other programmatic needs. The complexities of staffing schools with multiple programs were also acknowledged, particularly in schools like Eisenhower, which offers various immersion programs.

The meeting concluded with a commitment to continue monitoring staffing needs and budget adjustments, with plans to present a structurally balanced budget for final approval on June 10. The board expressed a desire to ensure that the needs of students and educators are met despite the financial challenges ahead.