District overview
Brewster USD 314
Funding structure, how it compares to peers, and where major projects stand.
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How is Brewster USD 314 paid for, and who decides?
Brewster USD 314 runs one PreK-12 school in Brewster, Kansas (Thomas County). Kansas pays schools mainly through a state formula based on student counts, plus a local option budget (LOB) raised from local property tax. A seven-member elected board sets the budget and hires the superintendent, Jessica McCoy, who is also the principal. Because enrollment is small and falling, each student lost has a big effect on funding.
91 students
PreK-12 enrollment reported in August 2026, with fewer K-5 students than last year.
LOB at 33%
The 2026-27 budget, adopted September 14, 2026, uses the highest local option budget Kansas allows.
No tax-rate hike
In July 2026 the board chose not to exceed the revenue-neutral tax rate.
Superintendent contract
In March 2026 the board gave the superintendent a 3-year contract through 2029 with a 1.5% raise for 2026-27.
The 2026-27 budget document itself is not posted; the newest budget files online are for 2024-25.
Where the district stands
Year-end transfers also moved $150,000 to special education and $50,000 to professional development.
Major projects
Building repairs and air conditioning
in progressNew classroom floors (upstairs done in summer 2026, downstairs and the hallway planned next summer), roof seam repairs, steam-trap repairs, a roof ladder, and replacement of older classroom and gym AC units.
- Roof assessments and heating repair quotes
- Flooring and roof repairs approved
- Steam-trap repairs approved
- Upstairs floors finished
- AC units tabled for more bids
Funding
District capital outlay and general funds; steam traps $9,728
New football bleachers
fundedNew bleachers for the football field, paid for with a Thomas County Foundation grant.
- Covering bleachers discussed
- Grant accepted; project fully funded
Funding
Thomas County Foundation grant
Attracting out-of-district students
under wayWith enrollment at 91, the district voted to advertise bus routes into other districts and is promoting the school's rebranding and news coverage.
- Board discusses picking up out-of-district students
- Advertising bus routes approved
- Enrollment reported at 91
- One out-of-district 7th grader approved
Funding
General fund (transportation)
Recent news
View the news feed →Resources
Practical guides to school phone policies, district budgets, and administrator hiring.
Explore resources →Collected from the district's Weebly website (usd314.weebly.com): every board agenda and set of minutes posted for November 2025 through the October 19, 2026 agenda, the 2026-27 cell phone policy, student handbook, computer use policy, the posted budget documents (2024-25) and the 2026-27 open enrollment projection. Most minutes are scanned and were read with OCR.
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