Thank you in advance for reading Issue #4 of “The View of the Summit.”  This comes to you each Friday and is meant to give you a deeper understanding of our academic and budget work.  Please always feel free to reach out with questions, comments and/or concerns.

 

Academics:  Supporting Student Success Through Enhanced Feedback Practices

This week, our dedicated teachers engaged in valuable professional development focused on one of the most powerful tools in education: effective feedback. Research consistently shows that meaningful feedback has a significant impact on student learning and growth. Our teachers spent time exploring how to make feedback more impactful in their classrooms through our district's commitment to continuous improvement.

Our teachers examined what we call the "4 C's" of feedback:

• Care: Creating a learning environment where students feel safe taking risks and view feedback as an opportunity for growth
• Clarity: Ensuring students clearly understand their learning goals and what success looks like
• Credibility: Building trust so students value and act upon the feedback they receive
• Communication: Delivering feedback in ways that students can understand and use to improve their learning

Teachers worked in grade-level teams to analyze different approaches to feedback and plan implementation strategies that will directly benefit your children. They focused on ensuring feedback is timely, specific, and actionable - moving beyond simple praise to provide students with clear direction for their learning journey

Thank you for your continued partnership in supporting Summit students' success.

Budget & Finances: Investing in Our Future

As we plan for the 2025-26 budget, it’s important to reflect on how we allocate funds to best support our students, staff, and schools. Summit School District operates under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and tracks finances across multiple funds, with the General Fund covering the district’s day-to-day operations—budgeted at $56.4 million.

Our teachers and staff are the heart of our schools, and the Board of Education has made a strategic decision to invest in them by utilizing fund balance to support salary increases. By prioritizing competitive salaries and benefits, we are ensuring that Summit School District remains a great place to work and learn. This commitment is reflected in our budget, with 89% of General Fund dollars dedicated to staff compensation and benefits—above the industry average of 85%. The remaining 11% is allocated to essential operational needs, including:

• Purchased Services: 6.5% (e.g., contracted services, utilities)
• Supplies & Materials: 4.4% (e.g., classroom materials, technology)

Year Over Year Comparison?

Compared to last year’s budget, overall spending increased by $1.68 million, with key changes including:
✅ Salaries: Up $1.5 million (4.1%), reflecting a 4.8% salary increase for staff while also accounting for natural savings from vacancies and staff transitions.

✅ Employee Benefits: Up $1.45 million (13.5%), driven by:

• Increased medical & dental insurance contributions by the district
• Higher PERA (retirement) & Medicare costs tied to salary increases
• Removal of a past transfer from the General Fund to the Health Benefits Fund

 

⬇️ Purchased Services: Down $147,000 (-3.9%) due to one-time expenses in 2023-24.
⬇️ Supplies & Materials: Down $1.12 million (-31%), reflecting cuts across all departments, including Curriculum and Technology.
⬇️ Transfers to Other Funds: Down $775,710, with Transportation being the only fund receiving a transfer in 2024-25.
 

Looking Ahead

The district expects to use $1.3 million from its fund balance, leaving a projected ending balance of $7.1 million—maintaining financial stability while continuing to invest in staff and students.

As we move forward, we remain committed to responsible financial planning that supports our schools, staff, and students, ensuring every dollar spent maximizes impact in the classroom and community.