The Forest Hills finance report on Aug. 11 outlined an ongoing projection that the district will draw about $8.4 million from its fund balance for the coming year under current assumptions and expects to end the year with a fund-balance-to-expenses ratio of about 10.77 percent, pending state budget action.

At the meeting, Missus Steinmeier said there has been no final action at the state level affecting the district’s budget and that assumptions remain unchanged until state figures are finalized. Auditors are scheduled to begin fieldwork next week for the 2024–25 audit, the district said.

As business items, the administration announced planned expenditures that the board was asked to approve or place on the agenda: a purchase of up to $160,000 from the general fund for paper for the 2025–26 school year through the RBMC cooperative; up to $40,151 from 2023 capital projects for media center shelving at Pine Ridge (through Omnia co-ops procurement); a diesel fuel purchase not to exceed $350,000 from the general fund for 2025–26 (the district solicits day-of pricing from five vendors and purchases at the lowest price); reimbursement to Kent County for reassessment-based property taxes of $81,646.50; and a planned three‑year digital subscription purchase for Everyday Math not to exceed $178,200 to support first- through fifth-grade classrooms.

The finance update included historical diesel spend references for context: the district spent $263,000 in 2024–25, $307,000 the year before and $405,000 earlier; administrators said they estimated $350,000 as a conservative allowance given energy market volatility.

Separately, the board approved an addendum to Superintendent Ben Kirby’s contract (effective July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2023, as read at the meeting; the administration said the addendum updates salary-schedule numbers that were approved earlier and clarifies retirement-service reporting). The item was approved by roll call with all named members voting yes.

On transportation, the superintendent and staff noted the district transports roughly 5,000 students and that a new supervisor of transportation began work the day of the meeting. The district also held a bus-driver job fair and continues recruitment; the administration said new drivers typically require four to eight weeks of training before driving independently.

Administrators said more financial and construction items will be presented to the board in December and January, and that active construction of multiple bond projects will continue into 2026.