The Lakewood Board of Education’s finance update on Sept. 2 showed the district’s cash reserves remain sufficient through fiscal year 2026 and included a note on additional state funding tied to the district’s state report card. Chief financial officer Miss Clarkson said the district’s July investment earnings and cash position are positive and that the initial five-year forecast for 2026 "reflects various changes" from fiscal 2025.

Miss Clarkson told the board the district’s unrestricted grants-in-aid — the state funding determined through the biennial budget and the state funding formula — are "trending $200,000 higher than the May ’25 forecast" because the final biennial budget added a performance supplement and the district’s star rating qualified it to receive that supplement. She described the $200,000 figure as an approximate amount and noted the amount is roughly $160,000 in practice, which is why the board discussed a cumulative figure over multiple years.

The CFO said year-to-date expenditures are largely in line with the five-year forecast, and that salaries and benefits are tracking slightly lower than the May forecast; staffing changes will be monitored and reflected in the October forecast. She said appropriation modifications will be made to keep the district in compliance with the state auditor and the county fiscal office and that all accounts have sufficient funds to cover increases in appropriations.

Miss Clarkson concluded the report by saying the district will provide an updated October forecast and "an analysis between the May report and the October report" when the October submission is finalized.

Ending: The board did not take any finance actions at the Sept. 2 meeting; the CFO said more detailed forecast updates would be presented in October.