VIENNA — Maries R-1 Superintendent Teresa Messersmith shared an overview of the 2025-26 budget proposal during the May 28 Board of Education meeting.

If the board approves the presented version of the budget at this month’s meeting, which is scheduled for June 24, then the general fund and the teacher salary fund will both operate at deficits during the next school year. The deficit would total $62,050.50, which would be about eight percent of the district’s reserve. The deficit spending could only be a one-time expense if the following year the board decided to cut back on incentive programs, such as Career Ladder. Once state-mandated raises for teachers that are tied to the Consumer Price Index begin in the 2028-29 school year, the board may not have an option to reduce costs in other parts of the budget.

Next year’s deficit spending could potentially double if Maries R-1 found a way to add another bus route. Messersmith acknowledged that adding another bus driver is still a significant need for the district, and she said an estimated $120,000 deficit seemed reasonable with the amount of reserve funds.

There is also a possibility that the school could break even because Messersmith takes a conservative approach to estimating revenue. For example, on the day of the meeting, the district learned it would receive about $12,000 more than anticipated in special education funds. The budget draft did not reflect that revenue. A potential increase in the State Adequacy Target could also bring more revenue.

Board member Lori Hayes asked if the school could recoup any of the additional transportation costs from the state.

Messersmith said the state’s formula for transportation reimbursement would not change if the district added another bus route, so it would continue to receive about $20,000 per month in transportation funds.

Board member Matt Novak asked if tariffs were creating additional expenses for the district.

Messersmith said she had seen predictions that tariffs could impact items that the school buys in large quantities such as paper and cleaning supplies. She always added an extra 10 percent to the budget that she hoped could cover a cost increase for those items.

Additionally, the board approved a cooperative agreement with the Maries R-2 School District to allow two Belle High School students to play on the 2025 Vienna Lady Eagles softball team because BHS did not have enough players to field a team for the second year in a row.

Messersmith estimated about 10 VHS students would play on the team, so with the additions of the girls from Belle, there would be enough players to field a varsity team but no junior varsity team.

Maries R-2 requested to host a couple of games, including one that could be senior night for its players. The district will also hire an assistant coach for the team.

Messersmith said she had no reservations about renewing the agreement for the upcoming season. She estimated it would save the district money because it would not need to hire an assistant coach.

Board members agreed that the arrangement worked well for both schools and the BHS players who would otherwise not have the opportunity to play softball. Board member Denise Wilkinson said she thought the co-op was great, but she did not like that the Lady Eagles had to compete in a higher class because of the expanded roster.

The board also approved a memorandum of understanding with rootEd Alliance, a nonprofit organization with a mission of putting college and career advisors in rural high schools to work with all students to define and plan their futures. The institution provides the district with a grant to help pay the salary of a career counselor.

Messersmith said having a career counselor had been a good thing for the district, and she thought it was likely the state would continue its Missouri Career Advising Initiative, which helps to connect schools with rootEd Alliance.

The board approved the early graduation applications of three students. Pending the completion of their remaining coursework, two seniors will graduate a semester early in December while one junior will graduate two semesters early next May. All of them plan to continue their education after their high school graduation.

A few board members said they were impressed by the students’ dedication and wished them luck as they pushed toward the end of high school.

Special Education Director Joe Edwards recommended extending the district’s speech therapy contract with Sweeney Therapy Services under the same terms as the previous school year. He and Vienna Elementary School Principal Shanda Snodgrass both said the service had been great for students.

The board voted to renew the contract.