The Oxford Community Schools Board of Education reviewed potential budget adjustments for the 2027-28 school year during its September 8 meeting following the failure of the district’s operating millage proposal in August.
The district will need to revise its budget for next school year to account for an estimated $7 million reduction in annual operating revenue, beginning July 2027. The reduction represents approximately 6.5% of the district’s current $110 million operating budget.
John Fitzgerald, Assistant Superintendent of Business and Operations, and Courtney Makowski, Budget Director, presented an overview of the district’s current operating budget and the approach being used to identify potential reductions. The presentation also highlighted the portion of the budget that is non-discretionary and must be used for specific obligations, limiting the funds available for reductions.
Potential reductions were evaluated using four strategic decision-making filters:
Mandate and compliance: Whether a service is required by law, statute or special education requirements.
Classroom instructional impact: Whether a reduction would directly affect classroom instruction.
Workload and caseload ratios: Whether staffing levels align with service demand, contractual caseloads and enrollment.
Capital sustainability: Whether the district’s general fund can continue to sustain the current level of operations.
Applying those criteria identified four primary areas for potential reductions:
School Closure – Leonard Elementary: The presentation identified declining enrollment in the Leonard attendance area, underutilization of the building and the ongoing cost of operating the facility as factors in considering closure. The estimated net annual savings would be approximately $1.7 million.
Athletics and Facility Usage: Potential changes include introducing pay-to-participate and student admission fees, as well as increasing facility rental fees to better recover operating costs. The estimated local revenue from these changes is approximately $500,000.
Transportation: Options range from reductions to general education transportation to eliminating general education routes. Special education transportation would continue to be provided as required. Depending on the option selected, estimated savings range from approximately $200,000 to $1.8 million.
Staffing and Operational Services: Potential changes include adjustments to staffing formulas, reductions to contracted services, changes to work calendars and summer programming, economic contract reopeners, and staff reductions. Depending on the overall budget scenario, the presentation estimates districtwide reductions of approximately 30-45 positions in addition to reductions associated with a potential Leonard closure and transportation changes.
The presentation outlined three potential combinations of these reductions that could address the approximately $7 million shortfall. These are being presented as first-reading options, not final decisions.
The potential budget adjustments would only take effect for the 2027-28 school year if the operating millage is not restored. Voters will have another opportunity to consider restoring the district’s operating millage to 18 mills on Tuesday, November 3.
The Board will continue its discussion and is scheduled to consider a resolution related to the budget adjustments at its next regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, September 22.
View the Presentation Slides.
Watch OCTV Recording of 9/8/26 OCS Board Meeting.