Jefferson City schools kick off 2026-27 year
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Jefferson City School District is kicking off the 2026-27 school year Monday morning.
All elementary schools in the district will be open from 7:45 a.m. to 2:45 p.m., and buildings will be open for students at 7:15 a.m. Middle school students will begin class at 8:50 a.m., and students will be released at 3:50 p.m. High Schools in the district will be open from 8:40 a.m. to 3:40 p.m., with doors opening at 8:10 a.m. Preschool starts at 7:40 a.m.
As the school year begins, drivers following a school bus should slow down when they see caution lights and prepare to stop. If a bus is stopped with red flashing lights, drivers must stop on both sides of the roadway to comply with Missouri law.
The new school year kicks off as the Jefferson City School District starts with $2.4 million less in state funding.
Back in June, the Jefferson City Board of Education voted unanimously to pass the fiscal year 2026-27 budget. According to district documents, the state did not approve full funding of the foundation formula, holding funding flat instead of budgeting an increase to keep up with inflation.
Instead of $7,145 per student, the state will pay out $6,865, board documents state.
The foundation formula determines state aid for K-12 local public schools, and the Missouri General Assembly voted not to increase it for the next fiscal year.
Chief Financial Officer for the district Shari LePage told the board back in June that it is prepared to face the “cut” in state funding because of what is available in reserves.
“Hopefully we can weather these funding shortages for the time being,” LePage said. “But we won’t be able to weather them forever.”
The district says the loss in funding is not expected to affect staffing.
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