2023-24 Budget: Initial proposal prioritizes Pathways, student supports, stability

District 191 Superintendent Dr. Theresa Battle submitted her initial budget proposal for the 2023-24 school year to the Board of Education at its March 23 meeting. Members of the District 191 community are invited to review and provide feedback on the proposal.

Calling for a cautious approach to an improved financial picture, Battle proposed $142 million in general fund spending against expected revenue of $149 million. The resulting $7 million surplus would build the district’s fund balance to provide stability after federal pandemic relief funds are exhausted. 

“As we have before, we’re taking a values- and priorities-based approach to next year’s budget,” Battle said. “We want to continue our work to become a Pathways district, to develop and sustain an equitable school system, and provide the supports students need. This proposal addresses those priorities and does it in a sustainable way.”

Highlights of the proposed budget include:

• Create a Director of Equity position to oversee English Learner and equity programming, eliminating English Learner Coordinator position to offset the budget
• Add a counselor position to support Virtual Academy grades 6-12 and the new Associate of Arts degree Pathway
• Add middle school volleyball
• Add 4 elementary teacher positions to coordinate student services, including to address disproportionality of student behavior and learning results
• Add social worker to support Virtual Academy and Burnsville Alternative High School

In addition, the proposed budget would keep in place positions and programs paid for by more than $4 million in federal pandemic relief funds, including middle school math interventionists, high school credit recovery teachers, free summer enrichment programming, reduced class sizes in kindergarten through second grade, and more. 

Community members can see details and provide feedback on the proposed budget at www.isd191.org/budget or by attending a public presentation on Wednesday, April 19 at 6 p.m. at Diamondhead Education Center, 200 W. Burnsville Pkwy. in Burnsville. 

Board members will review feedback and consider adjustments at a meeting later this spring. The budget will officially be adopted in June.