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Windsor Unified’s second interim shows improved outlook after new state allocations; district projects balanced out‑years
Summary
At its March meeting the Windsor Unified board received the second interim financial report. New state proposals and county special‑education funding changes improved the district’s multi‑year outlook, producing a projected surplus in the third year of the plan.
Windsor — Windsor Unified presented its second interim budget update Wednesday and reported a materially improved multi‑year outlook after updated state proposals and changes to county special‑education funding.
District staff briefed trustees on three state‑level changes that were built into the forecast: a governor’s proposed TK add‑on (higher per‑TK pupil funding tied to staffing requirements), a revised cost‑of‑living adjustment and proposed adjustments to the Expanded Learning Opportunities formula. Administrators also reported that a recent county SELPA funding reallocation improved Windsor Unified’s special‑education revenue projections.
Taken together, district staff said the changes produced about $1.1 million in new ongoing unrestricted revenue for the budget model used in the interim report. The district also expects a new recurring transportation reimbursement (state reimbursement for local transportation costs) estimated at roughly $525,000 ongoing; the board separately approved the district transportation plan at the same meeting.
Enrollment assumptions were discussed in detail. Staff explained that Windsor’s overall enrollment trend is influenced by a smaller twelfth‑grade cohort and demographic shifts, and that the district had built conservative enrollment adjustments for the next year while incorporating expected new TK seats and local transfer patterns. Administrators noted the district’s unduplicated pupil percentage (low‑income, foster youth, and English learners) was at about 51.3%; a governor’s proposal to set a 55% threshold for a higher EL/low‑income funding tier could materially increase district restricted revenues if Windsor reaches the threshold.
The board voted to accept the second interim report and the related resolution; staff said the report will be filed with county and state offices as required. District leadership said they will return with detailed budget assumptions and a budget adoption timeline later in the spring.
Ending: Trustees asked for continued updates on state budget developments and for district staff to model the sensitivity of the forecast to enrollment and state rate changes.
