Board reviews fiscal-year results, federal grant carryover and McKinney-Vento award

The White County Board of Education received the district’s fiscal year report showing the general purpose school fund’s expenditures and encumbrances outpaced revenues by $457,963 when accounting for planned encumbrances as of June 30.

During the budget presentation, Mr. Smith, the district’s budget presenter, reported that $40,762,048 in expenditures and encumbrances were shown in the general purpose school fund and that $3,000,111.876097 (7.63%) represented planned purchases or encumbrances not yet made as of June 30; the report identified the Dole Elementary School addition as a main driver of the large encumbrance balance. “This number will decrease significantly in 2026 as the Dole project wraps up,” Mr. Smith said.

Board members were told the School Federal Projects Fund fell about 64% from the prior year due to the wind down of ESSER projects; the fund closed fiscal 2025 with a $3,000,000 fund balance that represents local funds placed for cash-flow purposes.

The board also reviewed two federal-related budget amendments: carryover funds for a 21st Century program and a McKinney-Vento award for homeless students to support staffing. The McKinney-Vento amount was stated as $48,139.33. The 21st Century carryover amount in the meeting transcript was unclear; district staff confirmed the funds have been released and will be used for 21st Century programs this school year.

Board members discussed how the district historically budgets conservatively for local option sales tax fluctuations and that sales tax revenue declines have begun to plateau. School nutrition reserves were also discussed; while revenues increased faster than expenditures in the central cafeteria fund, the fund still drew down reserves.

The consent agenda — which the board adopted without objection — included the budget amendments and transfers, personnel report, district testing coordinators for the year, several field-trip/travel approvals (including FFA, culinary, TISA/HOSA overnight trips), and two late invoices from the prior fiscal year that require payment in the new fiscal year. The board said the invoices had funds available and authorized the bookkeeper to process them.

Board members were told the district’s federal dollars have been released after an earlier freeze and that program funding will be similar to last year. The board did not alter the budget at the meeting; it adopted the consent items that include the budget amendments and asked staff to proceed as specified.

Votes at a glance

- Consent agenda adopted (includes budget amendments for 21st Century carryover and McKinney-Vento; personnel report; testing coordinators; field trips; two FY24 invoices to be paid in FY26). Adopted by unanimous voice (no objections recorded).