The Sedalia School District 200 is projecting a deficit of over $650,000 in funding for federal title programs next year.

Those figures were presented to members of the Sedalia board of education at their meeting Monday, Dec. 15. Supt. Dr Todd Fraley says one option may to have a local funding source cover the gap.

About 40 positions in the district are tied to federal funding, with those salaries expected to require an additional $107,000 next school year.

Federal funding was one of the several items of discussion at Monday night’s meeting. Also brought up Monday night were preliminary proposals for the 2026-27 school calendar. Fraley says he’s hoping to set up a calendar with at least 169 school days, allowing Sedalia to see a boost in their state funding.

Fraley says district staff will continue to consider their options for the calendar, noting the later start that Sedalia has to the school year because of its proximity to the Missouri State Fair. Board members also discussed the prospect of moving their meetings up to a 6 p.m. start time. They also reviewed initial renderings of two additions to the Smith-Cotton High School, providing space for wresting and batting cages behind the gymnasium, while instrumental and vocal music would see expanded space on the north wing of the building.