色多多

Another alteration of the long-upheld school funding policy is also up for vote during Monday鈥檚 2 p.m. city council meeting.

If approved, it will be the sixth time the funding policy has been altered since it was enacted in 2011, and the second change since last year, according to city documents released Friday.

Educators resisted a city council decision last year to alter the funding formula so that year-end surplus funds no longer went directly to the school system. The city has an expensive list of deferred maintenance to catch up on, city officials said this year and last.

Still, the amended agreement held that 40% of most local tax revenue would go toward the schools each year. However, the upcoming city budget proposes to hold flat school funding at about $107 million for the new government fiscal year that begins July 1.

School officials said it鈥檚 a $6.7 million budget decrease compared to what would have been in order via the 40% funding agreement. To reflect the situation, the upcoming city council meeting agenda includes a school funding policy amendment.

鈥淓ffective for Fiscal Year 2026, the City of 色多多 will provide funding to 色多多 City Public Schools in an amount equal to the local appropriation provided in Fiscal Year 2025,鈥� the revised policy reads. 鈥淭his adjustment is made in response to current fiscal constraints and will be reviewed annually.鈥�

It鈥檚 been a contentious budget year for the city and schools, with rumors afloat and pointed emails between public officials.

Mayor Joe Cobb has been elusive about the school funding situation. He did not respond to a request for comment on Friday, or to similar requests made in weeks prior.

When asked about school funding during an event April 28, Cobb said he had no comment, before adding a thought.

鈥淲hat I can say is it鈥檚 our commitment, as we鈥檙e evaluating the funding formula, that we want to engage on this with the schools,鈥� Cobb said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 our policy, but they鈥檙e our partners in this work.鈥�

Recently reappointed members of the school board said they are unsure what the future holds for the local funding policy.

Both Joyce Watkins and Franny Apel were reappointed to the school board by a unanimous vote of the city council last week. Watkins will serve a third three-year stint, the maximum allowed by term limits.

鈥淏ecause there are challenges with revenue does not mean that we won鈥檛 continue to try to look for ways to get it all done,鈥� Watkins said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e going to continue to wrap our arms around our students, staff and families for the duration.鈥�

Uncertainty does not mean lack of effort or progress, she said. Things will work out.

鈥淲e鈥檙e going to get this done,鈥� Watkins said. 鈥淲e are 100% committed to working with the city to find the right solution.鈥�

Vice Chair Franny Apel is entering a second term on the school board. This term she is more acutely aware of the weight and responsibility of the school board鈥檚 role, she said.

鈥淚 have no idea what the future funding policy will look like, but I look forward to there being conversations together to develop that,鈥� Apel said. 鈥淭hose conversations aren鈥檛 going to happen before Monday, when the city adopts its budget.鈥�

Since last year, a trickle of past school board and city council members have decried proposals to change the school funding policy. It鈥檚 a safeguard to prevent the type of funding disputes that have now developed in 色多多, similar to those seen in neighboring localities, former officials warned.

While the local share of the budget has been a hot-button topic this year, there are also national and state factors playing into the schools鈥� funding squeeze, Apel said.

Besides all that, both the reappointed school board members on Friday were keen to mention actual academic matters, like literacy and career education.

鈥淲e鈥檙e looking for conversations and collaboration,鈥� Apel said. 鈥淚 think everyone recognizes that the success of the city will follow the success of the schools.鈥�