The 2023-24 budget for USD 253 Emporia is now ready for publication.
The USD 253 Board of Education approved publication of the budget as part of their regular meeting Wednesday evening and subsequently set a public hearing date for the budget in mid-September. As it stands, the budget carries a general fund of just over $36 million with a maximum spending authority for expenditures of more than $119 million, up from just over $94 million the previous year.
The mill levy also saw a slight increase to 54.929 from 54.77. Interim Assistant Superintendent of Business Operations Pam Stranathan says the uptick in dollars and mills reflects an increase in several areas of the budget.
The increase in special education funding drew remarks from board member Art Gutierrez who has stated in the past his desire to see special education fully funded by state and federal lawmakers.
In a separate, yet related, matter the board also approved publication of the notice to exceed the revenue neutral rate for the 2023-24 and also set the date for a public hearing on the topic. Both the budget and RNR notices will be published September 2 with the public hearings scheduled for the board’s next regular meeting on Wednesday, September 13 at 6:30 pm inside of the Mary Herbert Education Center.
In other business, the board approved the 2023-24 Emporia State University Americorps host site agreement with the Jones Early Childhood Education Center. Per the agreement, ESU will hire and pay Americorps members who will be responsible for providing academic support to students in small group settings within early childhood classrooms.
Board members also received a health and wellness update from Director of Nursing Jennifer Arndt after which the board rescinded the previous COVID-era health policy approved back in 2022. As part of the consent agenda portion of the meeting, board members approved several employment recommendations, a trio of memorandum agreements and a job description update.
Two executive sessions were also held with no action taken.
