Griffith board reviews fiscal indicators, moves to cover textbook fund deficit

Board finance presenters told trustees the district’s average daily membership rose from about 1,969 students last year to about 1,983 this year, and that free-and-reduced-lunch participation stands at roughly 52 percent.

During the finance review, trustees were told the district ended the previous fiscal year with a negative balance in its textbook fund after purchasing multiple curricular sets. Board members said the state required districts to bring that fund to a zero balance; the district used money from its rainy day and education funds to comply and recessed the need to pursue grants or other alternative funding to replenish those resources.

The board approved two resolutions by voice vote: one to cancel stale-dated checks dating back to 2022 and another to transfer money from the rainy day fund to the textbook reimbursement fund to bring the account to zero. The transcript records the resolutions as “Resolution No. 2025-2” (cancellation of stale-dated checks) and “Resolution No. 2025-1” (transfer from rainy day fund to textbook reimbursement fund). Both motions carried by voice vote; no roll-call tallies were recorded in the meeting transcript.

Trustees also reviewed the district’s investment policy and an investment-income report. The presenter said investment returns were below recent expectations and reported transfers into the main operating fund and food-service fund; the audio included a numeric amount for the main fund that was unclear in the transcript and $16,607.49 for the food-service fund.

Board members asked why interest receipts decreased compared with the prior year; the presenter attributed the difference to timing — the district’s bank balances on statement dates and occasional delays in grant reimbursements. The board carried the finance motions and moved on to the consent agenda.