The Westside Community Schools Board of Education is scheduled to meet after a 6:00 p.m. public hearing on an amendment to the district’s FY26 budget. The regular agenda includes major Westside Middle School facility projects, a preliminary FY27 budget review, policy items, July financials, and a three-year negotiated agreement for Nutrition Services employees.
Key Items on the Agenda
The board is scheduled to consider an owner/consultant agreement and approval of the schematic/design development package for renovations to the Westside Middle School Performing Arts Center. Staff recommends approval of plans prepared by TACK Architects.
The project is intended to expand and modernize the auditorium, including:
- Expanding the stage, with the proposed stage approximately 60% larger than the existing stage.
- Replacing auditorium seating and adding accessible seating.
- Installing new LED house and theatrical lighting.
- Updating the audio/video system and speakers.
- Modifying the ceiling and updating interior finishes.
- Adding card access to the elevator.
The packet anticipates design completion in November 2026, competitive bidding in December 2026, and construction beginning in May 2027. Completion is planned before the start of the 2027-28 school year.
Westside Middle School Track and Field Renovation
The board is scheduled to receive a schematic design update for a separate Westside Middle School track and field project. No board action is recommended at this meeting.
Plans include a synthetic turf field, new track and jump pits, 1,000-seat grandstands, a concession/restroom building, field lighting, a public-address system, and a throwing area with dual-direction discus rings and six shot put pads.
Design development plans are expected to return for board approval in September 2026. The packet anticipates design completion in November, bidding in December, and construction beginning in May 2027. The field and track are expected to be substantially completed before the 2027-28 school year, with the track surface expected in August 2027 and the concession/restroom building in December 2027.
Major Financial Items
FY26 Budget Amendment and Public Hearing
A separate public hearing is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. to receive support, opposition, criticism, suggestions, or observations regarding a proposed amendment to the district’s 2025-26 budget. The regular board agenda then includes the FY26 budget amendment as an action item.
The public notice says actual expenditures in certain funds are expected to exceed their original budgets because of unforeseen circumstances:
- School Nutrition Fund: proposed expenditures would increase by $600,000, reflecting higher-than-expected labor, food, and general supply costs.
- Bond Fund: proposed expenditures would increase by $2.7 million because of higher-than-expected expenditures for retiring bond debt.
- The notice states that the proposed adjustments will not change district tax rates for residents.
Preliminary FY27 Budget
The board is scheduled to review levy and non-levy funds as part of a preliminary FY27 budget presentation. No action is recommended at this meeting; the presentation is intended to preview the budget ahead of the September 8, 2026 Budget Hearing.
The preliminary plan includes a $103.43 million General Fund expense budget, consisting of approximately:
- $60.18 million in salary expense.
- $22.92 million in benefit expense.
- $20.33 million in non-payroll expense.
The presentation identifies $41.34 million in General Fund levy revenue as required under its budget and reserve assumptions. It uses a $32.5 million end-of-year General Fund reserve target.
The preliminary levy table shows:
- General Fund: 0.7788, down from 0.7928 in FY26.
- Special Building Fund: 0.0719, up from 0.0625.
- Bond Fund: 0.2190, unchanged.
- Total: 1.0697, compared with 1.0743 in FY26.
Those figures are based on 2.67% valuation growth. The packet recommends maintaining the Bond Fund levy at $0.219, citing uncertainty around interest rates and valuation growth and the district’s commitment not to raise that levy above $0.219.
Capital and Bond Fund Plans
The FY27 presentation identifies several major Special Building Fund expense items:
- $8 million for the WMS Track and Field Project.
- $1.65 million for the WMS Performing Arts Center project.
- $1,233,019 for the Westside Foundation Life Complex.
- $810,000 for Long Range Facility Plan expenses.
- $2,137,298 for contingency and cash reserve.
Together, the presentation shows a $13.83 million FY27 expense budget for these items.
The Bond Fund presentation lists approximately $11.80 million in scheduled FY27 obligations, including $5.28 million in principal payments and $6.51 million in interest payments. The preliminary plan projects a $13.20 million ending Bond Fund cash reserve.
July Financial Report
The agenda lists a $12,816,027 Treasurer’s Report for July 2026. General Fund disbursements totaled $7,682,097, compared with $6,328,286 for July of the prior year.
District financial comments say July non-payroll General Fund expenses were substantially higher than the prior July because of increased supply and utility costs, timing differences in summer Teaching and Learning expenditures, and differences in expense reclassification to the Special Building Fund. The district also anticipates a transfer to the Nutrition Services Fund that is expected to push General Fund expenditures above budgeted expectations.
Other financial indicators in the packet include:
- General Fund cash approximately $900,000 lower than the prior-year balance.
- Bond debt as of July 31, 2026 of $160.89 million principal and $80.39 million interest, or approximately $241.28 million total.
- Health and Dental Reserve of $4,112,089 as of July 31.
Nutrition Services Negotiated Agreement
The board is scheduled to consider approval of a negotiated agreement between the district and Service Employees International Union Local 226 covering Nutrition Services employees for the 2026-27, 2027-28, and 2028-29 contract years.
The packet says the agreement would provide an estimated 3.85% base salary increase in each of the three years. Staff says the increases are intended to keep district wages competitive with similar metro-area positions.
Other proposed changes include:
- A $50 increase in annual clothing reimbursement.
- One additional holiday for 12-month employees.
- One additional sick/paid-leave day for 10-month employees.
- Revised provisions for inclement-weather days.
- Authority for the district to convert 10-month positions into 12-month positions as needed.
- A wage schedule applying 3.85% increases in each of the three contract years.
The proposed agreement would run from September 1, 2026 through August 31, 2029.
Policy and Governance Items
Two business policies are scheduled for board approval:
- Policy #3330 — District-Owned Vehicles Other Than Those Transporting Students
- Policy #3450 — Disposition of Damaged and Outdated School Books, Furniture and Equipment
A third policy is listed for review rather than approval:
- Policy #7165 — Advisory Committees to the Board
The packet identifies these items and their action status but does not provide enough substantive policy detail to characterize the proposed changes beyond their titles.
Westside Middle School Update
The agenda includes a school update from Westside Middle School. The packet reports current enrollment of 1,001 students in grades 7 and 8, with 37.13% qualifying for free/reduced lunch, 3% identified as English Language Learners, 17.48% in special education, and 34.57% option-in students.
The school’s Continuous Improvement Plan focuses on reading proficiency by spring 2027, including objectives for:
- 75% of students to be proficient on the NSCAS Growth Reading Assessment.
- 60% of students to meet projected MAP growth from spring to spring.
- 38% of special education students to be proficient on the NSCAS Growth Reading Assessment.
The update also notes early/unofficial improvement in 2026 math and ELA proficiency for eighth graders and special education students. Westside Middle School reports that 67% of students participate in band, choir, or orchestra and that the school offers more than 24 clubs.
What to Watch at the Meeting
The meeting combines several decisions with projects that are still moving through design and budget development. Key points to watch include:
- Whether the board approves the proposed WMS Performing Arts Center schematic/design development package and related owner/consultant agreement.
- Questions raised during the FY26 budget amendment public hearing before the amendment appears on the regular meeting agenda for action.
- Board feedback on preliminary FY27 spending, reserves, levy rates, and major capital-project assumptions ahead of the September 8 Budget Hearing.
- The schematic direction for the WMS Track and Field project before design development returns for board action in September.
- Whether the board approves the three-year Nutrition Services negotiated agreement and Policies #3330 and #3450.
