CHAMOIS — Chamois R-1 school board members approved a deficit budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year at their meeting on Wednesday, June 10. The 2026-27 budget estimates revenues of $3,187,040 and expenses totaling $3,448,305, which leaves a deficit of $261,265. Chamois R-1 is projecting a 72% ending fund balance, well over the operational goal of 38%, with an estimated fund balance of $2,202,515.

The budget anticipates the following revenue breakdown: federal ($225,458), state ($1,435,775), county ($110,000), and local ($1,415,808). The district split the expenses into the following categories: operation ($650,649), administrative ($402,353), food services ($181,765), and information technology ($85,595). The district spends 66% of its expenditure on salaries and benefits, 12% on supplies, 12% on purchased services, and 11% on capital outlay.

Superintendent Lyle Best believes the district is in a good position moving forward despite financial uncertainty about state allocations.

“We are in a position where we can adjust if we need to if there are budget shortfalls,” Best explained. “If state funding is going to be less than anticipated, we will be okay, not for the long term, but in the short term, we are okay, and with the good balances, we don’t have to react to anything immediately. We have time to make adjustments.”

In other business, Chamois R-1 received a donation of $15,006 from Chamois Masonic Lodge #185 as a result of a local fundraiser done in partnership with the Masonic Home of Missouri. The local chapter raised $5,000 at a spaghetti supper and gun raffle, and the funds were matched to the total donation of $15,006. The money will be used for technology upgrades for students.

* L.J. Hart & Company met with Best to discuss the facilities study and made several onsite visits to the district to look at future plans.

“I can’t say for sure, but they seem to think that it is a possibility to do the HVAC upgrade without upgrading the electrical system,” Best said. “They seem to think there is maybe enough electrical capacity here.”

Best said there are no guarantees at this point, and that adding a new HVAC system to an older building is challenging. He noted that if an electrical upgrade is necessary, the district needs to order parts soon because there is a long lead-time on those items.

“The electrical part needs to be figured out first,” Best explained. “They are optimistic, but we don’t know for sure. It seems there may be a chance we can avoid the electrical upgrades.”

Best explained that the school board members are on track for a tax rate resolution in August to get the funding needed for the lease purchase, which will fund the new HVAC system.

Best said that there isn’t any urgency, but he would like to set up the public notices and approvals for September.

“Any money that we need, we can use from Fund 4 and reimburse at a later date,” Best said. “It’s good that we have that flexibility.”

Since the new HVAC system will not be in place before the next school year, the district will need to repair the current boiler system.

“The boiler is still broken from last winter,” Best explained. “The plan is to have it repaired but maybe have another contractor look at it before we make the repairs.”

“Another pair of eyes wouldn’t hurt anything,” Board President Steve Cramer said.

Best noted that in the past similar repairs cost $10,000 to $12,000, adding that he wasn’t sure there was another option at this point, and that everyone should hope the repairs last until the new HVAC system can be put in place.

* Board members approved a two-year plan with Rocket Alumni Solutions Interactive Platform for $4,560 ($2,280 per year).

“I think this is cool,” Best said.

The system allows the district to post senior composites, athletic pictures, military service pictures, entire yearbooks, and even snapshots on a single format that is available on a touch screen at the school or available online.

“We would have the ability to put up a sponsor or donation board that could help offset the cost,” Best explained.

Currently, a promotion in place allows the school to sign up for a two-year contract and receive a free touch-screen at no additional cost.

“This could help with student interaction and get current and former students more involved,” Best said. “It will take time to figure everything out, but I think it is a good idea. It is a nice tool to promote the school.”

* The school board members approved the District Assessment Plan as presented. Best explained that the school board was required to update the plan annually and that only minor changes were made.

“It is very similar to what we had before,” Best said.

* Board members approved amending 2025-26 budget figures to actual. The 2025-26 amended budget will not be available until after June 30.

* The board discussed two policy updates that will need to be approved at the July meeting.

— Regulation #2750 Wellness is a mandatory update that requires school fundraisers to fall under United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) guidelines.

“We don’t follow it, and I don’t know anyone that does,” Best said. “If they would make this a priority, we would have to address it. Anything you are selling is part of your school and must meet USDA requirements.”

Best said that the district currently has no guidelines for fundraisers.

“It’s getting out of hand, and we are not keeping track of it very well,” Best said. “There are a ton of things with our fundraisers that we can do better. We either need to put some criteria in place and enforce it or just let it go.”

— Regulation #3165 set procurement standards for federal contracts from $10,000 to $20,000. Best explained that while this policy is fine to have in place, it does not apply to Chamois R-1 most of the time.

* Best reviewed the Continuous School Improvement Plan (CSIP), noting that the information was also available on the school’s website.

“I was more pleased than I thought with the progress we made in the second semester,” Best said. “It’s difficult to focus on everything you want to focus on and everything you need to focus on,” Best said. “We’ve actually been continuing to do the things we set out to do.”

The district has created a 75-page literacy plan required by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).

“What’s frustrating is that it is another plan you are supposed to have,” Best said. “It’s for literacy, which is great, but it’s another document to prepare. It’s already included in our CSIP and in other areas. It’s redundant, and because we haven’t done it before, doesn’t mean we don’t focus on literacy.”

Best said that the information in the document lines up with what is already included in the district’s CSIP.

Best said they continue to try to improve engagement and participation with school surveys but haven’t found a better solution to what they already use.

Best said that overall, he is proud of the progress that the district is making.

* Board members approved outstanding expense totaling $54,504.66.

* Chamois R-1 had the following ending balances: general ($2,969,451), special (-$34,955), capital projects ($842,071).

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT

Best explained that there will be a change of leadership at DESE in the incoming year as one commissioner resigned, and the board president stepped down.

“In terms of leadership, there will be changes moving forward,” Best said. “For better or worse, things will be different.”

Best noted that the legislative session was over and only four bills relating to education passed.

“Really, they don’t amount to much of anything,” Best said.

He noted that the bills that passed related to antisemitism, a program for school security officers, and an oversight committee for the Missouri High School Sports and Activities Association (MSHSAA).

“There was nothing of significance done with school choice or open enrollment,” Best said.

* He also noted that although the A-F grading system did not pass through the legislature, it would be something that the governor puts in place, regardless.

* Best noted that the state income tax initiative on the ballot in August could affect school districts.

* Best explained that maintenance was continuing through the summer, including replacing the band room floor.

* Teachers and staff will be attending several conferences over the summer months.

* The district will be participating in a pilot program with DESE that works with elementary teachers on literacy training.

“This is focused on implementing skills that we have already learned,” Best said. “We are pretty excited to be participating in that.”

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

Principal Jeremy McKague told the board that literacy assessments pointed to improvements for elementary students and a struggling second semester for junior high students.

End-of-year numbers are posted on the school website.

* The attendance rate for K-12 ended at 92%, with a minimum number of referrals for discipline for the year.

* The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, July 8, at 7 p.m.