During a recent government meeting, concerns were raised regarding the challenges faced by smaller school districts, including Clarence, Orchard Park, Frontier, Hamburg, and Buffalo. A local taxpayer and parent expressed frustration over the ongoing issues affecting her child’s education, demanding accountability and action from district officials.

Following public comments, the meeting transitioned to an external audit presentation led by representatives from Drescher and Malecki. Senior auditor Amy provided an overview of the district's financial audit for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024. She reported an unmodified opinion on the district's financial statements, indicating they were free from material misstatement. The audit also found no significant issues with internal controls or federal awards received by the district.

The audit revealed a revenue increase to approximately $231 million, attributed to higher interest earnings and increased state aid. Expenditures rose to about $215 million, primarily due to rising costs in salaries and other operational expenses. This resulted in a net fund balance increase of $16 million, bringing the total fund balance to $106 million, with $92 million designated for restricted purposes.

The district has maintained its unassigned fund balance within the legal limit of 4% for the past four years, ensuring compliance with real property tax law. The audit concluded with a clean opinion, and the auditors thanked district staff for their cooperation throughout the process. The findings will be formally communicated to the board later this week.