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Protecting our future
Recognizing that these financial pressures will continue, Superintendent Dr. Melissa Schneider launched the Budget Task Force in September as a proactive way to plan for the future.
The goal of this collaborative effort is to look at the big picture, protect what matters most for students, and make thoughtful, transparent recommendations about our budget priorities.
What the Budget Task Force
is doing:
Through December 2025, the Budget Task Force is working to:
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Understand the budget: where our funding comes from and how each dollar is used.
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Study our strengths and challenges: what is working well, where we are vulnerable, and where we have opportunities.
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Look ahead, not just year-to-year: explore both short-term adjustments and long-term strategies.
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Maintain trust and transparency: explain the budget clearly to staff, families, and the community.
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Recommend options: provide thoughtful, student-centered recommendations to the Board of Education.
Who's involved in the
Budget Task Force:
About 30 Parkway staff members serve on the Task Force, representing classrooms, schools, and operations.
This diverse group ensures that the voices of those who know Parkway best — our people — help shape the recommendations that will guide our path forward.
What families and our community can expect:
As the Task Force continues its work, Parkway will:
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Share clear, easy-to-understand updates about our budget and the Task Force’s progress.
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Invite feedback and questions.
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Keep our focus on protecting the classroom experience for students, while honoring our responsibility to taxpayers.
Invested in Fiscal Health
Parkway has always been a school district that prioritizes fiscal responsibility and academic excellence. Because of careful planning over many years, we maintain a balanced budget, a strong fund balance, and a AAA bond rating – the highest rating a school district can receive.
This strong fiscal foundation means we can continue to keep students at the center, even as we navigate new financial pressures.
But challenges are on the horizon.
In April 2025, we took short-term, proactive measures to balance our current budget by reducing expenditures in areas such as supplies and professional development, rather than cutting directly from classrooms. At the same time, we know that:
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Health care costs for employees are rising significantly
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The cost of supplies and services, including utilities and food service, continues to increase
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The Senior Citizen Property Tax Freeze will have a significant impact on current and future revenue
Because of these pressures, we are planning ahead now to protect resources for our staff, classrooms, and students for the years to come.
A Shared Commitment
Students thrive
because they have excellent teachers, safe schools, and access to high-quality learning opportunities.
Staff feel supported
and valued for the work they do each day.
The community can trust
that Parkway will protect both the quality of education and the investment residents have made in their schools.
What we are facing: rising costs and decreasing revenue
Rising healthcare expenses
Health care expenses for our employees increased by 14% in 2024, totaling an additional $5.4 million over the year prior.
The sharp increase in healthcare costs reflects a national trend that we expect to continue. For 2025, we are seeing an additional 17% increase.
Rising cost of supplies and services
The cost of supplies and services to support our students continues to increase. Our current budget includes an 11% increase in purchased services, such as outsourced service providers, professional development, and food services. This amounted to a $2.2 million increase for our 2025-26 budget.
Need for competitive salaries
Historically, Parkway has attracted high-quality teachers and staff in part because of our competitive salaries and benefits.
In recent years, we have been increasingly competing for a smaller share of experienced educators and operations staff. A competitive labor market and a teacher shortage have made it increasingly necessary to offer attractive compensation.
Decreasing revenue: Senior Tax Freeze
The St. Louis County Senior Citizens Property Tax Freeze allows homeowners age 62 and older to freeze their residential property tax bills at current amounts. In Parkway, approximately 40% of households are eligible.
We respect and value our senior residents for the support they continue to provide Parkway and understand their need for tax relief. However, as a result of the tax freeze option, Parkway schools will lose about $2.8 million this year. The amount will compound annually.