District reports unaudited 2024–25 actuals showing grant revenue timing shifts; board hears request to change finance director title

The Bear Valley Unified School District presented its unaudited actuals for fiscal year 2024–25, reporting shifts in grant revenue timing and changes in restricted balances that affect the district’s multi-year projection. The board approved the unaudited actuals during the meeting.

Jess, the district’s executive director for business services, led the presentation and explained the largest adjustments were timing shifts in state and federal grant revenues. She said the California Community Schools Partnership Program (CCSPP) revenues originally budgeted into 2024–25 were reallocated across future years, reducing current-year revenue by roughly $3,400,000. Jess also described a redemption adjustment of approximately $248,000 in federal funding related to unearned revenues that are being carried forward and an increase in local revenues of about $1,600,000, driven in part by a second RDA apportionment and fair-market-value adjustments.

Jess told the board these unaudited figures are preliminary and will be audited this fall. She said the district’s reserve for economic uncertainties is set at 4 percent, approximately $1,700,000, and that the unassigned, unappropriated portion of the ending general-fund balance is roughly $1,300,000. The report also showed transfers and other adjustments such as a $190,000 transfer from the general fund to Fund 17, an account that offsets employee health-and-welfare costs.

“Overall, our nonrecurring revenues decreased by $3,400,000,” Jess said, describing the CCSPP timing change. She also noted interfund transfers and audit adjustments related to expired ESSER programs and other federal funds.

After the presentation the board moved to approve the unaudited actuals; the motion passed on a voice vote recorded as “all in favor.” The agenda materials, as presented, show the district expects planned deficit spending to normalize in future years per the multi-year projection.

Separately, Manny asked the board to consider changing Jess’s title from executive director to chief business officer to align the district with common practice and to reflect her responsibilities. Board members discussed the request; staff noted Jess has completed a chief business officer certificate. No formal title-change vote was recorded at the meeting; the request was presented for future consideration and to appear on a subsequent agenda.

The district also reported details about restricted funds and capital projects funded from Fund 25 (RDA/developer fees), including a science lab allocation listed at approximately $1,300,000 and purchases for stadium and food-service infrastructure made during the year. Board members asked follow-up questions about deferred maintenance and pavement needs; staff said those items are on ongoing facility plans and would be included in future budgeting discussions.

The unaudited actuals presentation will be followed by the formal audit in the fall; the board approved the unaudited numbers to provide an updated starting point for the next fiscal-year budget process.