K-12 and MTC budget reviews dominated discussion during Tuesday’s Mitchell School Board meeting. On the K-12 side, Superintendent Joe Childs says declining enrollment is impacting the proposed 2026-2027 spending plan. “It’s been essentially a cliff that we’re falling off of and we’ve lost over a hundred students now in the past three years,” said Childs. “And you’re seeing even in part of our preliminary budget where we’re reducing FTE, we’re reducing costs where we can.”
He says lower birthrates is a factor. “Which means, if we’re looking to see an increase in enrollment in Mitchell, it means we need to have more affordable housing, more jobs that are going to draw people in,” Childs said. “Essentially, we have to bring more families with children to Mitchell.”
Childs said declining enrollment is happening across the state.
In other business the board was briefed on the district’s literacy coaching program, met in executive session regarding MEA negotiations and approved the final negotiation plan.