The Springfield Board of Education is set to consider a budget that includes smaller raises for employees due to declining enrollment and reduced state funding. The proposed budget calls for revenues of $373,398,434 and expenditures of $374,046,190 during the 2026-27 school year.

Raises and Cuts

Employees who are not represented in the collective bargaining process will receive a one-time stipend of $500 instead of a cost-of-living adjustment. The district has also cut the equivalent of 66.7 full-time positions, saving about $4.3 million. No one was laid off in the process, as targeted employees were given the opportunity to transfer between the district’s more than 50 buildings.

The smaller raises are the result of a tight budget year caused by declining enrollment and reduced state funding. Superintendent Grenita Lathan said that the cuts and smaller raises help SPS sustain long-term financial stability, while also backing priorities of student success and employee support.

Enrollment and Funding

SPS enrollment is estimated to be around 24,000 students in the 2026-27 school year. The district expects to receive $108,931,406 in state funding, down from $111,385,693 in the current year. The proposed budget includes adding a handful of positions tailored to the district’s needs, including $448,952 for positions related to special education and $103,228 for full-time and part-time bus drivers.

Original reporting: Springfield Daily Citizen — read the source article.