001U Mr. Cathy, could you lead us in the pledge of allegiance? Thank you. Do we have any public comments? Okie do. First action. I need a motion to approve the agenda 4.02. >> Second. Okay. >> All those in favor raise your right hand and say I. >> I. Those opposed. Motion passes. I need a motion 5.01 to approve the consent agenda items 5.02 02 through 5:15 as presented. >> So moved. He burn. >> Oh my. >> Second. Amen. >> All those in favor raise your right hand and say I. >> Motion passes. And now we have a motion to approve the period 13 2025 financial statements as presented. Mr. Cook, we need a motion. I need a motion. So move Pangorn. >> Second, Kathy. >> Mr. Cook. >> So a little delayed from our normal
002uh timeline with uh period 13. Uh the audit, as you guys know, was running late and we often wait for that until period 13 gets officially approved. But really uh not a lot contained there. Um we increased our operating revenue due to some earnings from investments that hadn't been recorded. Uh there were no changes to expenditures, so pretty eventful period 13 statement to submit for your approval. >> Any questions? >> Miss Andrew, >> normally you give us a little update on any kind of legislated >> I'm I'm saving that one for the regular financial. >> Perfect. Okay. Just want to make sure we're going to get that. That's been super helpful. All those in favor to approve the financial statements as presented, raise your right hand and say I. Motion passes. >> I now need
003a motion to approve the January 2026 financial statements as presented. >> Second. >> Okay. Uh so operating revenues in January just over 35 million and really a sigh of relief around that right as our tax revenue started to show up. Uh I was going to start looking for another job you know if the tax revenue didn't didn't show up this year but uh $34 million 66% of our expected revenue u current tax revenue of course made up more than 95% of that amount uh 70% of what we plan to receive there. Um, so I think that's a good start. We last time or last year at this time had 61%. So we've caught up and really surpassed where we were at this time last year. It appears that that revenue continues to show up through
004February as well. I'm still learning the cadence of St. Louis County, but uh feeling much better positioned than than where we were even two months ago. Uh lagging still a little bit in collection of delinquent taxes. That's that's u I'm not sure of a reason for that. Of course, it's a much smaller amount that we're expecting, but would love to see some of that coming in as well. We're at 17% of what we expect so far. We were at 52% at this time last year. So, that delinquent tax rate is is coming in a little bit slower. Our our seventh Proposition C payment for FY26 at 641,000. That's been really pretty consistent uh recently that that we've been getting about the same appropriation there. Desi continues to feel like funding is going to meet that
005appropriation. So, we feel pretty strongly about Prop Cy that things are trending in the right direction. We're at 53% of our expected uh collections in regards to that. One thing that didn't get added that that we did have, we did have some more Eminem sir tax that came in. It's not I think on the the sheet that you got, but we're up to half of the amount now that we expect to receive there. So, uh apologize for that being left off. Uh but I I did catch that as we're preparing for this evening. Really tracking well in our others mentioned in uh in that local revenue line ahead of the game for the VTS program and some of those other local revenues. So uh feel like things are trending well. Uh nothing again from the
006county uh in January, but in in state revenues uh we received $863,71. We're at 41.47% of our budget. uh basic formula was up about 200,000 from December. Before you get too excited about that, it wasn't really a greater contribution. We had received a finance financial institution tax reduction payment that accounted for the biggest chunk of that. Uh that was not something that I ever received in my previous job. So just sort of investigating that. There was a capital gains relief bill that was passed a few years ago uh for financial institutions and it negatively impacted the amount of revenue that that school districts got. So they passed another law saying that the state would reimburse to help offset some of the cost of that. Uh so that went in effect in January 2020. we get
007a payment uh every January toward that end that just is designed to sort of soften the blow of those legal changes that were made years ago. So, um state revenue again allowed for an SAT of 6,900 again expecting 7145. Um more and more skeptical. We won't won't get to that point. U KSD SAT after subtracting local effort remains at 1440. I'm just going to hammer that home every month that uh after we take the local efforts, subtract it from what the state says they'll pay us, we're left at $1,400 a student instead of $6,900 a student. So, uh classroom trust went up. So, thanks to everyone who gambled in January with whatever they had left over from Christmas, I guess. Um we had an increase of about 73,000 more in January than in December. So
008year-to- date cash for classroom trust is still way behind, but now it's only 24 million behind instead of 26 million behind as it was in December. So um that bears closely watching. It's it's sort of one of those things that is is uh made up for in other ways hopefully or it's called out as a proration. So we'll we'll just continue to monitor that. Uh transportation went backwards 20,000 from last month. um probably impacted somewhat from snow days, not greatly but a little bit. And then also there was a higher proration uh factor this month. So that proration representing that the appropriation that we are entitled to the revenue didn't meet that goal and so we end up getting reduced by the appropriate percentage. So for us uh there was 94% appropriation this month, 96
009last month. You can see the difference of about $20,000 between those two percentage points of of proration. Uh parents as teachers, uh we are uh still collecting on those screenings that we're doing monthly 17,330 this month. We're about halfway home to what we expected to get in the PAT line. Uh federal revenues this time around again was only that lunch and breakfast reimbursement. We're at 55% of that funding, 50% of federal overall. uh January operating expenses just over 8 million year to date. Uh we're at 48% of our budgeted expenses and we're uh now 60% of the way through the year. So it's continuing to trend well there. I'm sure that those numbers will continue to catch up with each other. But uh another good month for self-funded insurance as we roll over the calendar
010year. uh we were uh $950,000 in expenditures and uh I'm sorry revenues were 950,000 uh medical claims were 669. So we increased our fund balance in January uh by 280,000. So uh closed the year or closed the first month of the calendar year 1.3 million fund balance. This time last year we were at $43,000. So much better standing uh this this time of this year. Uh you're you're always a bad month away from a correction there, but would much rather be in the position we are right now than where we were. So um other fund balances I think there are nothing too far out of the ordinary in regard to um the fund balances and those other funds that are represented in your sheet debt service. We had a major influx of money there which
011is stands to reason as that property tax revenue comes in. Um I just wanted to drop a little bit of a of an information nugget for everybody here. As I was researching this for our budget and finance committee just comparing our debt service levies to our neighbors around us. We are at 27 cents for our debt service levy which is uh the second lowest in St. Louis County. Uh, I think it speaks well to the work that's gone on before I got here to make sure that we've been able to accomplish a lot with that without having to increase that tax rate. And so I'm very glad to be able to share that. Actually, I just looking at the state and comparatively sized districts, we're the lowest among uh the school districts of similar size.
012So I think that uh speaks well of the work that's been done and and for just a message to our patrons of of uh use of that revenue. So, a brief legislative update around financial issues. I I would point out one bill to watch that has been moving recently, Senate Bill 998, sponsored by Brad Hunen. He's from southern Missouri modifying provisions related to the Missouri empowerment scholarship program. So, that's that most scholars uh where public tax money is able to go to private tuition. So, just a a bit to jog your memory there. that that's a program that's in existence. This this bill would modify that and really the effort I think there is to expand the number of participants and access to that money. So, uh right now there's two ways to qualify for
013that. You have to have an IEP and you have to fall under an income income threshold of 300% of free and reduced lunch, which is actually $178,000 a year for a family of four to qualify. uh this bill would change it to any student with a 504 could also qualify. So uh it kind of opens up that uh access to folks uh to be able to access that money. Uh some of the other limitations this bill would remove uh qualified private schools used to be required to be accredited. No longer would they have to be accredited under this bill if it passes. So, uh, public money going to private institutions that don't have to be accredited. Um, it removes the requirement that a student have attended a public school prior to being eligible. So, one
014of the main reasons for the program was to provide an opportunity for students to escape public schools that weren't doing well. And then we're a couple years in and they're removing the fact that you never even really had to go to a public school to begin with to qualify. So, uh, those are some of the things we're watching. The reason it rises to the top, I think, is uh in a year where the recommendation is to cut 190 million for the formula next year. This is a this is an area that's expected to grow and the governor is asking for $60 million to go towards that program, which is 10 million more than last year. So, uh, this is, uh, progressing through the Senate and so it's a bill that we would want to watch
015closely as it's at the top of their calendar, uh, to to be debated. House Bill 2780 uh, is a bill that we've talked about before modifying property tax uh, those those provisions governing property taxes. So, this bill had been uh second read and was ready to be perfected and there was a great deal of engagement that came from school folks and other taxing jurisdictions across the state. This bill actually got sent back to committee uh which was extremely rare uh at this point to make it to a third vote and to be sent back to committee. That seemed to fall apart as House members were hearing from constituents around the implications of this. So, just a reminder of new uh construction and personal property being placed under the Hancock amendment. Our fiscal impact that we
016would guess in the short term is about $5 million. Uh that if we started subjecting that over the course of the next five years, we could see up to $5 million of revenue lost. A pretty conservative estimate. Um there's a lot of engagement around this bill. It's back in committee and expected to be uh back on the floor in probably two weeks or so. So, House Bill 2780, Tim Taylor is the sponsor of that bill and uh would encourage you to to watch that and uh I've had an opportunity to get to visit with a former board member of Kirkwood Schools around that that bill as it's progressing through the house. So, um, I would yield the balance of my time back to >> any questions. Starting with Miss Neman. >> Thanks so much for
017the update. questions, but just wanted to um provide some feedback that at the Kirkwood City Council meeting a few weeks ago, um the deputy mayor uh Mark Zimmer actually reported back to the council on some of those um bills that you've been following and expressed appreciation for your kind of paying attention and making sure that our communities engage and invested in what's happening on the legislative front. So, thank you. >> That's that's great to hear. And there are many jurisdictions in the city. It's not just schools that get affected by those property tax, right bills. So, I appreciate >> Yeah. So, that keeps them keeps it on their radar as well. So, let's keep that collaboration up. Thank you. >> Yeah. Um, Miss Neman, I want to just thank you for really engaging with the
018city council because I have served on this board now for going on, I don't know, too many years, but you have successfully engaged the city council and I can't tell you how much I appreciate that. >> Thank you. I know they're they're excited to collaborate with this group as well because there is a lot of um, you know, the school district's an important part of our community. >> Absolutely. So, it's a great engagement. So, appreciate >> and I mean we've try we have always had a great relationship but you have really helped us rise to a another level and so I just >> I'm just gonna stop and yes um and then um Dr. Cook real quick um with the the SAT like um we still don't know how much fund how much they're going
019to fund that. Remind me again when do you think we will know? I I surely don't expect to know until May. I think it I think is when they when they finally push that budget across. And honestly, >> there are still sometimes withholdings that come even after May. Uh that that it's just strictly based on that appropriation level that they can meet. So, >> uh it always trickles down to us, right? Even though we aren't getting that full amount, it affects that bottom line for KSD students as well, >> right? So we we would expect a need the need to be very cautious around state funding for next year. I'll just leave it at that for now. >> Okay. So can you repeat that again? >> We we will need to to plan to be
020very cautious around state funding especially related to the formula for next year. >> Okay. And then real quick um when that um the delinquent taxes >> Yes. >> Um I don't know if you know this off the top of your head but from this year we're 17%. Yeah. >> Compared to the 52. What was that amount on on that? We were projected for the del. It's okay if you don't know off the top of your I'll email you. >> I don't want to tell you the wrong number. >> No, no, no. You're fine. Yeah. I just want to make sure we're kind >> If I can be honest, I have a number in my head, but I can't remember. >> It's fine. I just want to make sure you'll find it quicker than I would.
021So, if you don't mind. Thank you. And thanks again for the updates. >> Um Mr. Also really appreciate it. Um I was really surprised when you said that we were the second lowest. >> Did you say in the state or the county? >> Well, it it's for sure in the county, but but I looked at similar sized districts all across the state and couldn't find one lower than 27 cents. So I think it again I give credit to the the people who were before me and the boards be that that serve to You know, it's really always about levy management when it comes to bond issues and that you get the most revenue you can for the lowest levy and and so I'm appreciative that we have kept that levy low and manageable while still
022meeting the needs of our students. So, uh I think our patrons can take u can can feel good about the fact that that levy continues to be historically low in comparison with other districts. >> Yeah. So, I guess my I just want to throw it out there and I just it kind of hit me when you said that like how do we get that information as like an infographic or like a statistic out to our families because I don't think we get enough views on YouTube and there's not enough people here to really get that message out, but that's a big deal. >> I know a good communications person. >> I know. I was looking at stuff through the corner of my eye. Um, but I just feel like that's a really good message if
023we're going to have like a feel-good Wednesday or something. Not to take away from your where are you Wednesdays, but that is to me that's like one of the the best. Yeah, exactly. Feel good Fridays. >> We could send them to all the districts that have lower or higher debt service levies than we >> I didn't say that. Okay. But I just again, Dr. Rumpus, as we are thinking about the really good information about what we are doing in this district, right? That is something that we should celebrate. So that was just my my thought. All those in favor of approving the financial statements as presented, raise your right hand and say I. I. Motion passes. Thank you very much, Mr. Cook. And now we move to information. Um we the first bit of information
024has to do with our 26 27 um board meeting dates which take switch over in July. Um, we are currently considering a proposal to move our regular meeting dates from Monday nights to Tuesday nights. This potential change is being evaluated as part of the board's ongoing efforts to optimize its future schedule. At the March 30th, 2026 meeting, the board will vote on the proposed draft meeting dates so the school buildings can begin scheduling their calendars around the approved board meetings for the upcoming school year. We are absolutely committed to not having conflicts, especially with the elementary schools because I know Tuesday nights are their nights. So, we're working to get this information out quickly. Um, and future events, there's a community racial allyship meeting February 25th. Dr. Map, what time is that? >> 6 PM.
025Thank you. Um, and this is delayed or postponed from uh the big snowstorm we had. Sunday evening is KSD night at the Magic House from 6:00 to 8 and a bunch of us from the board and the cabinet will be there to just say hi and be friendly and chat with people. So that will be fun. Um and then the end of the third quarter is March 6th. So it's coming up. Um we have a board work session on March 9th and business meeting that I already mentioned on March 30th. Board reorg is on April 13th. Please don't forget to vote on April 7th. And now I need a motion to return to close session. So move Pangorn. >> So Miss Neman, Miss Hern, Miss Andrews, Miss Pangorn, Miss Motika. Yes. Motion passes.