School board approves 2025-26 district budget

The Comanche Board of Education met on Tuesday, Sept. 9, to approve the district’s budget and review enrollment figures.

Finance Director Terry Davidson presented the district’s Estimate of Needs, outlining fund balances and the budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. Davidson noted that past efforts to increase fund balances have helped the district avoid budget cuts amid rising costs and the end of stimulus funding.

Superintendent Julie Bills reported the current student enrollment is 788. Bills said the district has seen a continued decline in enrollment, partially due to larger graduating classes being replaced by smaller ones at lower grade levels. She noted the district has 170 transfer students.

Bills also reported that the district will use the ACT for its testing mechanism, based on community input. The district earned full accreditation for the upcoming school year with no deficiencies.

In other business, the board approved the School-Wide Title I Plan, various encumbrances, and several policy changes to comply with new regulations. They also approved routine consent agenda items, including minutes from the August meeting, activity fund reports, and booster club sanctionings.