Nearly $6M investment in fine arts, other departments part of SCUCISD 2025-26 budget talks

At a July 10 budget workshop, Chief Financial Officer Brian Moy broke down proposed expenditure increases for the district’s 2025-26 budget, $5.94 million in what he said were “overdue deferred operating costs,” and $5.58 million in capital expenditures for safety.

The expenditures are contingent on the district receiving revenue from a voter-approved tax rate election, or VATRE, Moy said.

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The majority of overdue costs would be in the SCUCISD fine arts department, including a $3.1 million allocation toward band instruments on multiple campuses. Moy said there is a “ton” of need in this category districtwide, all the way down to the elementary level.

Other fine arts needs include orchestra instruments across the district, sound and light systems at several campuses and other various improvements at Byron P. Steele High School.

Athletics costs would be mainly in equipment replacement, which encompasses items like bleachers, scoreboards, uniforms, wrestling mats and storage, Superintendent Paige Meloni said.

The majority of Career and Technical Education costs would be used for vehicle replacement, which are used to haul animals and other equipment.

Technology needs are concentrated in both instructional and non-instructional devices, as well as other classroom hardware, Moy said.

What else?

The one-time capital outlay for safety projects would tackle playground replacements at Maxine & Lutrell Watts Elementary, Laura Ingalls Wilder Intermediate and Barbara C. Jordan Intermediate.

Other items include Steele High light poles, fire alarm system replacements and band towers for Steele and Samuel Clemens high schools.

Fine Arts Director Beth Bronk told trustees in March that safe and secure band towers are necessary for band leaders to give feedback to different sections.

“Everyone has them, we don’t have them. It’s not really about just trying to have what everyone else has, [band leaders] can’t see. We can’t do what we need to do,” Bronk said March 12.

What’s next

The board will likely call for a November VATRE election on August 18, Deanna Jackson, SCUCISD’s communications and community engagement director, said in an email to Community Impact.

According to Moy’s July 10 presentation, if district voters approve a VATRE, it would bring in $9.13 million in increased property tax revenue and $6.67 million in supplemental state funding.