School Funding Priorities - Fall 2026 Survey

The Warrensburg R-VI School District is facing significant financial challenges that will require us to reduce expenditures in the 2027-28 school year by approximately 4–5%. These reductions are needed due to a combination of rising costs, increased spending for employee benefits, and lack of full funding of the basic formula for education at the state level. These reductions will likely involve difficult decisions, including reductions in staffing, programs, and services.

As we work through this process, it is important that the Board of Education and district leadership understand what our community values most and where we believe resources should be prioritized.

This survey is intended to gather feedback from parents, students, employees, and community members about the broader priorities that should guide these decisions. Rather than focusing on individual programs or positions, we are asking you to consider the overall educational experience we provide and the trade-offs that may be necessary to sustain it.

Your feedback will help inform discussions and decision-making as we work to maintain a strong educational experience for Warrensburg students while ensuring the district's long-term financial sustainability.

The survey should take approximately 5–7 minutes to complete.

We would ask that all surveys be completed by 3:00pm on Friday, November 6, 2026.

Thank you for taking the time to share your perspective and for supporting the Warrensburg R-VI School District.

1.Which of the following best describes your connection to the Warrensburg School District?(Required.)

Other (please specify)

3.If you are a student, what grade are you in?

Elementary (K-5th Grade)

6th-8th Grade

9th-10th Grade

11th-12th Grade

4.Where do you live?(Required.)

Within Warrensburg City Limits

Within the school district, but outside Warrensburg

Outside the School District

6.When considering potential budget reductions, which statement most closely reflects your perspective?(Required.)

Make reductions across multiple areas so that no single program or area bears the majority of the cuts.

Protect employee salaries and cost-of-living increases, even if some programs or services must be reduced.

Protect a broad range of student programs and opportunities, even if classroom sizes or staffing levels increase.

Protect core academic instruction, even if some extracurricular or elective programs must be reduced.

Other / I am Unsure

Protect current staffing levels, even if some programs or services must be reduced.

7.If the district must reduce some programs or services to preserve others, which approach would you generally support?(Required.)

Make smaller reductions across a wide range of programs and services

Reduce or eliminate programs that are less essential to the overall educational experience in order to protect higher-priority programs.

I am unsure / Need more information

Reduce or eliminate programs that serve fewer students or have lower participation.

Avoid program reductions whenever possible, even if that means making deeper staffing reductions.

Reduce programs that have the least impact on student academic success.

8.How important is it to provide employees with annual salary increases that help keep pace with the cost of living?(Required.)

9.If providing employee cost-of-living increases requires reductions in other areas, which statement best reflects your perspective?(Required.)

Prioritize cost-of-living increases, even if some programs or services must be reduced

Balance employee compensation with maintaining student programs and services

Prioritize maintaining student programs and services, even if employee increases are smaller.

Avoid salary increases if they require reductions in other areas.

Unsure

11.What is one thing you believe the district should make every effort to protect as it works through these financial challenges?

12.Is there anything else you would like the Board of Education and district leadership to consider as they make difficult financial decisions?