School Board Meeting - July 27th, 2026

Kiona Benton City School District board meeting, listed as July 27, 2026 (metadata timestamp: July 29): The board held a public hearing on the proposed 2026–27 budget amid discussion of declining reserves, levy failures, possible staffing reductions, and effects on student programming. The presentation included a projected general-fund ending balance of negative $818,027; members also discussed salary increases and overload costs in preparing the budget. The board approved a levy resolution setting the collection rate at $1.30 per $1,000 of assessed value, with all recorded votes in favor, and announced that applications for pro and con levy committees would be available the following day. The transcript does not capture a final vote on the full budget resolution.

The board discussed, but did not decide, whether to establish athletic or activity participation fees. Staff were asked to estimate current sports costs per participant and develop procedures for further board discussion. Members noted that the InvestEd fund had about $6,800 available and had helped cover student ASB cards and activity-related costs. A policy establishing student representatives as non-voting board members passed its second reading. No contract awards, vendor selections, or purchasing approvals were identified.