At its June 3 meeting, Fillmore Unified School District presented a first reading of the 2024–25 LCAP annual update and the proposed 2025–26 budget, and district leaders warned that persistent attendance shortfalls and state budget uncertainty could require staff reductions in future years.

Assistant Superintendent Isaac Huang reviewed LCAP goals, local indicators and community input gathered through site councils, DAC, ELAC and student advisory groups. Huang said the district’s priorities will remain focused on academic achievement, supports for students (including social-emotional and wellness services), staff development, and facilities. He noted pockets of improvement in some measures — for example modest gains in CAASPP meets/exceeds for students with disabilities — but said other indicators remained flat or reflected ongoing needs. "Our recommendation is to remain steadfast with our LCAP goals and metrics and our actions," Huang told the board.

Assistant Superintendent of Business Services Andrea McNeil presented the proposed 2025–26 budget and a multiyear projection. McNeil said the May revision to the state budget and market uncertainties had narrowed state reserves and made district projections more urgent. The district anticipates roughly $72.1 million in total revenues for 2025–26 and total expenditures in the $77.9 million range for the current year; McNeil described carryover and federal timing as drivers of year-to-year changes.

Attendance emerged as a central fiscal risk. McNeil and trustees explained how average daily attendance (ADA) affects LCFF funding and said modest changes in ADA translate to material revenue differences. Trustee Scott Balick framed the magnitude: "1% equals $1,000,000," he said during the discussion. McNeil said the district’s unduplicated pupil percentage is about 77.28% for the three-year average used to compute supplemental funding and noted the district’s ADA did not reach an earlier optimism target for this year.

McNeil outlined possible staffing reductions in a conservative multiyear scenario if attendance and state support do not improve: she said the district might need to reduce approximately 10 teachers by 2026–27, cut about 3 certificated FTE in specialized roles, reduce counselors/psychologists and other support positions, eliminate two administrative positions, and reduce about 10 classified staff. McNeil also said the district expects to maintain a reserve that covers restricted balances and post-employment benefits, while continuing to carry a 3% required reserve for economic uncertainty.

Board members pressed for next steps on attendance recovery. McNeil and Huang described state changes taking effect July 1 that allow districts to count certain summer and extended-learning hours as make-up days toward ADA (up to 10 days if minimum daily minutes are met). McNeil explained options such as offering summer initial-credit courses, before- and after-school programs that can be banked hourly toward attendance and targeted make-up sessions for students with chronic absences. District staff said they will pursue partnerships with local youth organizations and expand messaging to families; trustees discussed making attendance a standing board discussion item.

The board did not adopt the budget at the meeting; McNeil said the item will return for action at the June 17 meeting. Trustees continued to approve several consent and action items unrelated to the budget during the same meeting.