“A budget is a document of values and priorities.”
I shared this thought during last night’s 2026/27 budget discussion because budgets are about much more than revenues and expenses.
They reflect what we believe matters most for students and where we choose to invest our resources.
This year’s budget is especially significant because it is the first budget adopted since we approved our 2030 Vision*.
That plan sets ambitious goals*, including improving literacy and math outcomes for all students while reducing long-standing opportunity gaps between our economically disadvantaged students and their peers – goals that have never been fully achieved in the history of our district.
The investments in this budget reflect our district values** and advance several new or expanded strategies*** connected to our literacy and math goals, including:
• expanded math and literacy interventions
• universal reading screening
• the return of elementary summer school
• expanded instructional coaching
• enhanced curriculum implementation support
• additional interventions for students who are off track academically
• new early literacy pilot programs
More than 86% of our budget is invested in the people who serve students every day.
And some of our largest investments this year support the people and programs that help students succeed, including:
• smaller lower elementary class size and reducing split-grade classrooms and overloads
• expanding counseling and social work services
• strengthening behavior supports
• increasing academic interventions in reading and math.
There’s still much work ahead, but I’m proud that this budget aligns our resources with our community’s vision for student success and our commitment to ensuring every learner has access to the opportunities and support they need to thrive.
Read the story by Kathryn in the paper today: https://bit.ly/4amSdWZ
* Or new 5-year strategic plan goals: https://bit.ly/47w7UJZ
** Our district values: https://bit.ly/tcaps-values
*** Full list of the continued, new, and expanded strategic plan activities: https://bit.ly/4eEjaZh
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